RELEASE OF THE IIC QUARTERLY (WINTER 2025–SPRING 2026)

Chair: Dr. Karan Singh

Discussants: K. N. Shrivastava, Director, IIC; Dr. Jyotsna Singh, cultural activist and heritage conservationist; others 

India is home to a rich plurality of religions, faiths, and belief systems, where a deeply syncretic ethos has long shaped the lives of mystics, intellectuals, ordinary people, and even non-believers. This volume draws upon a seminar held at the India International Centre on the theme “Syncretic Traditions of the Indian Subcontinent.”
 

IIC/MEDIA DIALOGUES 
Draft Digital Content Rules: Safeguards or Curbs?

Moderator: Prasanto K Roy. Public Policy Advisor. Former Editor-in-Chief, CyberMedia
 

Discussants: Nikhil Pahwa. Founder & Editor, MediaNama; Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, Journalist. President, Press Club of India; Apar Gupta, Advocate, Founder-Director, Internet Freedom Foundation; Siddharth Varadarajan, Founder-Editor, The Wire; Shreya Singhal, Advocate

(Collaboration: The Media Foundation)
 

The Durian Flavour India and ASEAN after a decade of the Act East Policy 
by Gurjit Singh (Rupa Publications, 2026)

Chair: Garry Singh, President, IIRIS Consulting

Discussants: Shaktikant Das, Principal Secretary to the PM and former Governor, RBI (TBC), H.E Josel F Ignacio, Ambassador of the Phillipines to India and ASEAN Chair 2026, Amb Lakshmi M. Puri, former UNASG & Deputy ED UNWomen and acclaimed author, Amb. Rudrendra Tandon, Secretary (East) designate MEA; Prof.SD Muni, Professor Emeritus JNU; Amb Gurjit Singh, Former Ambassador to Germany, Indonesia & ASEAN, Ethiopia & the African Union & Author of the book
 

CLEAN AIR DIALOGUES
NCR’s Road to Clean Air: Progress, Obstacles and What Lies Ahead

Moderator: Sarika Panda Bhatt, Director, Nagarro and Cofounder, Raahgiri Foundation.

Discussants: Rajesh Verma, IAS, Chairperson CAQM; Tarun Kumar Pithode, IAS, Member Secretary, CAQM;  Sreyamsa Bairiganjan, CEO, Energiva Ventures

The discussion will detail the regulatory journey to combat air pollution to date. Presentations will cover enacted policies, enforcement challenges, and measurable cross-sector progress. The discussion will highlight implementation successes alongside ongoing pressure points in the region.
This conversation marks the first in a series of dialogues exploring the multifaceted challenges of air pollution, bringing together perspectives from science, policy, health, and civil society.
 

(Collaboration: Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Raahgiri Foundation)

Assembly Poll Results and the Politics Ahead

Moderator: Bharat Bhushan, journalist and editor

Speakers:  Dr Ajay Gudavarthy, Associate Professor, Centre for Political Studies, JNU; Seshadri Chari, Political Analyst; Vasudha Venugopal, Editor, Politics, NDTV; Jomy Thomas, Chief of Bureau, Malayala Manorama; Jayanta Roy Chowdhury Editor, UNI

(Collaboration: The Media Foundation)
 

ART MATTERS
 

A panel discussion on a book The Idea of Persia by Ramin Jahanbegloo

Discussants: Professor Neera Chandhoke and Professor Syed Irfan Habib along with the author.

(Collaboration: Raza Foundation)
 

DIALOGUES IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Conceptualised by Dr. Ashwani Kumar

Assessment of effect of Noise Pollution on Human Health

Workshop from 10:00 to 13:00
Screening for any effect of noise pollution: any relevant history of the past, physical examination in symptomatic cases, checking of the health parameters affected by noise pollution like blood pressure (BP) and pulse, auditory (hearing) screening in selected cases of concern, on spot counselling will also be provided.  

(Strictly for IIC members and staff members only)

At 16:00
Short Talk on Noise Pollution and its effects on Human Health

Noise pollution is a preventable environmental issue and defined as excessive, unwanted, or harmful sound that has significant adverse effects on human health. It has impact on hearing, increasing risks for cardiovascular diseases, sleep disturbances, and cognitive impairments which is a broad term for reduced mental ability spanning from mild noticeable memory lapses to severe dysfunction in the form of Dementia. It has negative effects on community cohesion and quality of life. Effective Noise Pollution management is essential, with robust regulations, proper planning, and public awareness.

Followed by Panel Discussion with experts on Noise pollution

Moderator: Dr. Rakesh Kumar
    
Discussants: Dr. Rajesh Sagar Professor, Department of Psychiatry, A.I.I.M.S, New Delhi; Dr Achal K. Srivastava, Professor, Department of Neurology, A.I.I.M.S. New Delhi; Shivani, Chief, Audiologist, Department of E.N.T., A.I.I.M.S., New Delhi.

Followed by interactive Q & A session with the audience

Chair:  Dr Ashwani Kumar                          
 

Nuclear Power in India: Rationale for the SHANTI Act

Speaker: Dr. Ravi B Grover, Member of Atomic Energy Commission, Chairman of the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences and Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI).

Chair: Amb. D. B. Venkatesh Verma, Former India’s Ambassador to Spain, Russia, and to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

Discussants: Mr. Ramadurai Raghavan, Vice President & Head – Power Business Unit. Tata Consulting Engineers Limited; Dr D K Shukla, Former Chairman, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board; Ajay Shankar, Former Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP)

India’s Strategic Autonomy : A Special Feature 
Edited by Pankaj Saran & Raj Kumar Sharma (NatStrat India, 2026)

Shyam Saran, President, IIC in conversation with Pankaj Saran, Convenor, Natstrat

Discussants: Dr Shamika Ravi, Member PM’s Economic Advisory Council; Amb. Jawed Ashraf, Chairman, ITPO;Vice Admiral S J Singh, DG, USI; Suhasini Haider, Journalist.

Concluding address M.J.Akbar, Author and Former Minister

Cancelled

Art Matters

Rasas of Modernity, a panel discussion on the book ‘Understanding Indian Modernity Through Paintings’ (Aleph 2025) By Harsha Dahejia.

Discussants: Geeti Sen; Meera Menezes and Harsha Dahejia

(Collaboration: Raza Foundation)