Jamshedpur, September 20, 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.
