Uditvani, Jamshedpur : The Indian Institute of Management Ranchi hosted a distinguished International Conference and Workshop on the Geopolitics of the Himalayan Region, drawing eminent scholars, diplomats, and policy strategists from six nations across two continents to deliberate on the evolving strategic landscape of the Himalayan belt and its far-reaching global implications.
Preceded by an exclusive networking dinner, the conclave commenced with an inaugural address by Director Prof. Deepak Kumar Srivastava, who underscored the indispensability of geopolitical acumen in shaping effective business strategies.
Chief Guest Dr. Jarmila Ptackova of the Czech Academy of Sciences offered incisive insights into China’s border manoeuvres, tracing the conference’s evolution from a modest dialogue to a prominent international forum.
Plenary deliberations spanned an array of perspectives—ranging from redefining the Himalayas as a distinct geopolitical entity to analysing China’s 
multi-pronged strategy, Kazakhstan’s emergent role in reconfigured trade corridors, and Armenia’s connectivity potential via the International North–South Transport Corridor. Among the notable speakers were Dr. Shveta Dhaliwal, Dr. Leila Delovorova, Prof. Tigran Yepremyan, Prof. Roman Karapetyan, and Prof. Srikanth Kondapalli.
The workshop sessions and parallel paper presentations engaged participants on themes such as India–Central Asia relations, Tibet’s shifting geopolitical contours, regional hydropolitics, and the role of new multilateral platforms in fostering Himalayan cooperation.
In the valedictory session, Prof. Srivastava lauded the conclave’s success in catalysing cross-border academic exchange and announced forthcoming marquee events, including the Pan-IIM Conference and summits on Indian Business Systems and Tribal Entrepreneurship.
With its diverse intellectual discourse and high-level participation, the conference reaffirmed IIM Ranchi’s stature as an emerging epicentre for global engagement on the geopolitics of the Himalayas, seamlessly blending scholarship, diplomacy, and developmental vision.
