Background
Bihar stands at a pivotal moment in its development journey, characterised by a young population, rising aspirations, and strong linkages with labour markets across India and beyond. As India advances towards the vision of a developed nation by 2047, Bihar’s progress will significantly shape the country’s future. Over the last two decades, Bihar has recorded notable achievements in economic growth, infrastructure expansion, school enrolment, public service delivery, and governance reforms. Yet, substantial challenges remain in employment generation, industrialisation, agricultural transformation, urban development, investment acceleration, climate resilience, and human capital formation.
The Global Convention on Transforming Bihar 2027, to be held at Patna during 10- 11 January 2027, is being organised by the Institute for Human Development (IHD) and Nalanda University, seeks to bring together scholars and experts, policymakers, industry leaders, civil society members, development practitioners, and members of the Bihar diaspora from India and abroad to deliberate on pathways for transforming Bihar into a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable economy.
The Convention builds upon the Institute for Human Development’s landmark Global Meet on Resurgent Bihar 2007 and the subsequent Global Summit on Changing Bihar 2012, organised in partnership with the Government of Bihar and other partners. These initiatives helped place Bihar’s developmental challenges and opportunities at the centre of national discourse. The 2027 Convention aims to provide a fresh roadmap for Bihar’s next phase of transformation.
Bihar's Development Challenges
Over the last two decades, Bihar has experienced profound social and economic progress. However, the State faces a new set of development challenges that call for innovative, coordinated, and forward-looking responses. These include creating quality employment for a young population; enhancing agricultural productivity, diversification, and value chains; accelerating industrial development; addressing climate change and disaster risks; managing urbanisation; formulating a migration policy which benefits both the migrant households and the local economy; improving health and educational outcomes; harnessing technological change, including artificial intelligence; mobilising investment and managing resources; leveraging the knowledge and networks of the Bihar diaspora; and strengthening institutional capacities for sustainable development.
Convention Objectives
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01. Identify opportunities and constraints for the further development of the State
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02. Generate evidence-based recommendations for policy formulation and action
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03. Develop a shared vision and roadmap for Bihar's transformation by 2047
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04. Build partnerships among government functionaries, academia, experts, the private sector, civil society members, international institutions, and the Bihar diaspora, both from India and abroad, for sustainable and inclusive development of the State
Convention Outcomes
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01. A Bihar Declaration 2027: a substantive and policy-relevant declaration that will contribute meaningfully to Bihar's development discourse and planning.
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02. A Bihar Vision 2047 Policy Report: a comprehensive Convention Report that will synthesise the key deliberations, insights, and recommendations.
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03. Thematic policy briefs from the technical sessions: policy briefs that will present focused strategies and actionable recommendations for key themes.
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04. A multi-stakeholder knowledge and policy network comprising government functionaries and policymakers. academics, experts, industry, representatives, civil society members, development practitioners and the diaspora committed to development of Bihar.
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05. An edited volume by a leading international publisher containing selected and revised papers presented in the Pre-Convention Forum.
