Date/Time
Date(s) - 25/11/2025 - 26/11/2025
12:00 am
Location
server room
Categories
Two-day National Seminar
On
Rethinking Development in the Himalayas: Paving the Way to a Viksit Bharat 2047
At Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Rashtrapati Nivas, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Dates 25th and 26th November, 2025
Theme Note : The Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), Shimla, invites scholars, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to submit papers for the National Seminar on “Rethinking Development in the Himalayas: Paving the Way to a Viksit Bharat 2047,” to be held on 25th and 26th November 2025 at the IIAS campus in Shimla. Convened by Dr. Ruchi Ramesh, Principal of Government Degree College, Darlaghat, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, this seminar seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogue on sustainable development in the Himalayan region, aligning with vision of India of becoming a developed nation by 2047 under the Viksit Bharat 2047 initiative (NITI Aayog, 2023). The Himalayas, a vital ecological, cultural, and geopolitical asset, face unprecedented challenges due to climate change, industrialization, and socio-economic transformations. This seminar aims to explore innovative strategies that balance economic progress with environmental stewardship and cultural preservation, contributing to India’s goal of inclusive, sustainable, and resilient development by 2047. The Himalayan region, spanning states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir, is increasingly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters, including cloudbursts, landslides, and disrupted road connectivity. For instance, Himachal Pradesh reported 184 deaths, 309 blocked roads (including National Highway 305), and economic losses of Rs 1,852 crore due to monsoon-related disasters from June 20 to August 3, 2025. Uttarakhand faced a devastating cloudburst in Uttarkashi’s Dharali village on August 5, 2025, killing five and leaving 11 army personnel missing, while Jammu & Kashmir recorded 65 deaths from a cloudburst in Kishtwar on August 14, 2025. Infrastructure projects, such as four-lane highways, have exacerbated vulnerabilities, contributing to 81 road accident deaths in Himachal Pradesh in 2025. These events highlight the urgent need for sustainable development models that mitigate environmental risks while fostering economic and social resilience, directly supporting the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision of sustainable growth, regional equity, and climate adaptation.
Darlaghat, located in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, exemplifies the tension between industrial growth and environmental sustainability. Home to North India’s largest cement plant, the region has seen economic growth through job creation and improved connectivity but at the cost of environmental degradation due to limestone extraction, dust pollution, and landscape alteration. This seminar, hosted at the prestigious IIAS campus in Shimla provides a unique platform to examine these challenges and propose solutions that align with India’s national development goals.
Objectives:
Aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, the seminar seeks to:
• Examine the environmental, social, and economic challenges in the Himalayan region, particularly climate-induced disasters like cloudbursts and landslides, to inform sustainable development policies.
• Foster interdisciplinary dialogue to integrate the Himalayas into India’s roadmap for a developed nation by 2047, emphasizing inclusive and green growth.
• Identify sustainable economic models, such as eco-tourism, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture, that preserve ecological boundaries and cultural heritage.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange among researchers, policymakers, and local stakeholders to develop resilient infrastructure and equitable development strategies.
Sub-Themes:
The seminar invites papers addressing the following sub-themes, each aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 pillars of sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation:
1. Climate Change and Ecological Vulnerability The Himalayas are highly susceptible to climate change, with increasing incidents of cloudbursts (e.g., 26 reported in 2021 across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir) and landslides (e.g., 48 major landslides in Himachal Pradesh by August 2025) disrupting ecosystems and infrastructure (India Meteorological Department, 2021. Papers are invited to explore the science of climate impacts, adaptive strategies, and disaster risk reduction measures to enhance environmental resilience, a key component of Viksit Bharat 2047 (Wani & Kant, 2023).
2. Sustainable Development and Economic Growth Traditional livelihoods in the Himalayas, such as agriculture and animal husbandry, are becoming unsustainable due to climate change and market dynamics. The seminar seeks papers on alternative economic models, including eco-tourism, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture, to address losses like the Rs 1,71,495 lakh in damages and 88,800 hectares of crop loss in Himachal Pradesh in 2025. Contributions should align with Viksit Bharat’s economic prosperity goals while preserving ecological integrity (United Nations Environment Programme, 2022).
3. Geopolitical Context and Regional Stability The Himalayas are a geopolitical frontier, influencing India’s relations with neighbouring countries through resource competition, particularly water, and strategic interests (Chellaney, 2021). Papers should examine how connectivity disruptions, such as the closure of National Highway 505 in Lahaul-Spiti, impact regional stability and development initiatives, supporting Viksit Bharat’s vision of a secure India.
4. Science, Technology, and Innovation for Resilience Technological advancements can mitigate climate risks and support sustainable development. Papers are invited to explore innovations in climate modeling, disaster preparedness, and sustainable infrastructure, drawing lessons from events like the 2013 Kedarnath floods, which killed over 5,000 people (National Disaster Management Authority, 2013). Contributions should align with Viksit Bharat’s innovation-driven growth.
5. Preserving Cultural Heritage and Indigenous Knowledge The Himalayas host diverse communities with rich cultural traditions and indigenous knowledge, which are under threat from modernization and environmental changes. Papers should propose strategies to integrate local wisdom into development frameworks, ensuring inclusive growth that aligns with Viksit Bharat’s emphasis on cultural pride and social equity (Wani & Kant, 2023).
Call for Papers
A limited number of participants will be invited for the Seminar. Those interested in participating should send (preferably by email) an abstract (500 words) of the proposed paper in English along with their C.V. (One page) directly to Dr. Ruchi Ramesh Email: seminar.gdcdarlaghat@gmail.com, and copy to the Academic Resource Officer, Indian institute of Advanced Study, Shimla on his Email seminar@iias.ac.in Tel: 0177-2831385 The abstract should clearly state the objectives, methodology, and relevance of the proposed paper, and must include 4–6 keywords. The last date for submission of abstracts is 20th October 2025 by 05:00 PM.. The Institute intends to send Invitation letters to selected participants by the 30th October, 2025. It is the policy of the Institute to publish the papers not proceedings of the seminars it organizes. Hence, all invited participants will be expected to submit complete papers (in English), hitherto unpublished and original, with citations in place, along with a reference section, to the Convener and copy to the Academic Resource Officer, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla– 171005 by 20th November, 2025. The IIAS, Shimla will be glad to extend its hospitality (free hospitality is provided only to the Seminar participant) during the seminar period and is willing to reimburse, if required, rail or air travel expenses from the place of current residence in India, or the port of arrival in India, and back. Note: Plagiarism is a serious academic offence and the Institute reserves the right to cancel the selection/participation of a candidate found guilty at any stage.
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