Jamshedpur,
September 22, 2025 :
In a landmark initiative to strengthen governance, infrastructure, MSME
competitiveness and sustainability in Jharkhand, XLRI Jamshedpur, Jharkhand
Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (JIIDCO), Jharkhand
Industrial Area Development Authority (JIADA), and Invest India jointly
launched 15 live projects under the Jharkhand Industrial Policy Lab.
The
orientation and briefing session was hosted at XLRI Jamshedpur, beginning with
an introduction by Dr. Kalyan Bhaskar, Associate Professor (Strategic
Management), and welcome remarks by Prof. Dr. Sanjay Patro, Dean
(Academics), XLRI. Shri Varun Ranjan, IAS, Managing Director, JIIDCO and
JIADA, unveiled the projects and articulated their vision for transforming
Jharkhand’s industrial landscape.
Team
members from Invest India and EY, serving as knowledge and
consulting partners, shared critical insights on execution strategies and
policy relevance. The event also featured an interactive Q&A with XLRI
students, providing an opportunity for direct engagement with policymakers and
consultants, reinforcing the institute’s mission of combining rigorous academic
learning with real-world impact.
A
total of 30 student teams will engage in these projects, with some
participating through an elective course on Public Policy and others through
live projects supported by the Committee for Public Policy Research (CPPR), a
student-driven body at XLRI. The projects are centred around enhancing the
industrial investment ecosystem of the state of Jharkhand through policy and
strategic reforms. Students will receive structured weekly and periodic
guidance to track progress and ensure impactful outcomes.
This
marks a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, where management students will
contribute directly to live projects on shaping government policy-making,
setting a new benchmark for experiential learning and public policy engagement
in B-schools.
Speaking
on the occasion MD, JIIDCO said, “JIIDCO is glad to partner with XLRI, to
launch Industrial Policy Lab, where young students are helping us co- create
solutions that can drive Jharkhand’s industrial future.”
From
XLRI Leadership, Prof. Kalyan Bhaskar said, “Getting to work on projects that
can shape state policy and contribute to national development is a rare opportunity
for students. This initiative offers immense learning, deep satisfaction, and
truly reflects XLRI’s vision of working for the greater good.”
For
Invest India, the National Investment Promotion & Facilitation Agency,
under the aegis of Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India,
the knowledge repositories created from this project will be useful for
application and capacity building of state governments and government bodies,
across the country to improve the industrial investment climate and ease of
doing business in the regions.
The
initiative provides an excellent opportunity for students to contribute
directly to development of Jharkhand while enhancing their academic and
professional profiles. For XLRI, it bridges the gap between academia and
practice, allowing context-relevant teaching and research. For JIIDCO and
JIADA, it brings some of India’s brightest minds to work on real-world
challenges, contributing to the state’s growth.
The
session concluded with a vote of thanks followed by a networking dinner, where
students, faculty and government officials exchanged perspectives on
sustainable industrial growth.
With
these 15 projects, the Jharkhand Industrial Policy Lab is set to emerge
as a collaborative platform for innovation, policy analysis, and
implementation, showcasing how academia, government and industry can work
together to drive inclusive growth.