First-of-its-kind policy lab connects academia with government to deliver actionable industrial strategies
Jamshedpur, December 27: XLRI – Xavier School of Management successfully hosted the Final Presentations of the Jharkhand Industrial Policy Lab (JIPL) 2025–26, marking a first-of-its-kind academic–policy initiative where students worked directly on real-time public policy and business strategy challenges for the State of Jharkhand.
The Jharkhand Industrial Policy Lab is a collaborative initiative of the Government of Jharkhand, Jharkhand Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (JIIDCO) and Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority (JIADA). Invest India served as the Knowledge Partner, while XLRI played a central role as the Academic Project Partner, anchoring the programme through curriculum design, mentoring and evaluation.
What sets JIPL apart is its student-driven model, where participants undertook in-depth research, stakeholder analysis, and strategy formulation, culminating in formal policy presentations to senior government officials and industry leaders.
Student Participation and Selection
A total of 28 student teams participated in JIPL 2025–26, comprising:
- 16 teams from Public Policy and Business Strategy (PPBS) Course
- 12 teams from Committee for Public Policy Research (CPPR)
Following a structured review process, 20 teams were shortlisted for the final presentation round, 16 from PPBS and 4 from CPPR. After detailed evaluation by the jury, six teams were selected for the next stage of the Lab.
The selected teams are:
- PPBS Groups:
Group 6: Vision 2035 – Jharkhand as
India’s Industrial Hub
Group 7: Unlocking Value of JADA’s Idle Land Assets
Group 4: India’s First Net-Zero Industrial Estate
Group 5: Next-Gen SEZ Model for Mineral-Based Industries
Group 3: Single Window 2.0 – Redesigning Investment
Facilitation Pontal
- CPPR Group:
Group: Xlerators
These teams will now advance to the next phase, where they will present their refined recommendations in Ranchi next year, before senior leadership of the State, including the Principal Secretary and the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
Distinguished Jury and Guests
The final presentations were evaluated by senior policymakers and industry leaders, including representatives from the Government of Jharkhand, Invest India, and industry. The presence of senior IAS officers, state officials and domain experts provided students with valuable feedback grounded in governance and implementation realities.
Academic and Policy Significance
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Kalyan Bhaskar, Associate Professor (Strategy Area) and Course Instructor at XLRI, emphasised that the Lab demonstrates how rigorous academic frameworks can translate into practical, implementable policy and business strategy solutions, while also providing students with unparalleled experiential learning.
Varun Ranjan, IAS, Managing Director, JIIDCO, appreciated the depth of analysis and originality of the student presentations, noting that such initiatives strengthen evidence-based policymaking and foster early engagement between future leaders and government institutions.
XLRI’s Commitment to Policy-Relevant Education
Through the Jharkhand Industrial Policy Lab, XLRI reinforces its long-standing commitment to bridging academia, industry and government. The initiative exemplifies XLRI’s belief that management education must extend beyond classrooms to address real-world challenges and contribute meaningfully to public policy and societal development.
The successful completion of JIPL 2025–26 highlights the role of students as active contributors to policy discourse, and positions the Lab as a replicable model for collaborative, student-led policy innovation in India.
