LIST OF PANELS

Public policy praxis—the knowledge derived from practice and reflection—is transforming governance across developing economies. In India, this transformation is visible through the exponential growth of policy education programs, research institutions, and a vast industry of policy practice that spans government, consulting, and civil society. Yet, this expansion unfolds amidst technological, administrative, ecological, and political shifts that challenge existing legal and policy frameworks.

Developing economies are now key laboratories for governance innovation. From AI-enabled service delivery to local-level participatory experiments, these contexts highlight how governance capacity, institutional coherence, and policy equity must evolve together. The conference invites reflection on how public policy praxis can help bridge theory and action, regulation and innovation, and local and global approaches to policymaking.

We aim to foster dialogue between academia, practitioners, and policymakers to explore how developing economies can build coherence and capacity to meet future challenges in governance, technology, and sustainability.

This panel will focus on scholarship addressing the governance challenges of developing economies. Papers and panels will explore methodological innovations in studying law–policy intersections, comparative governance in the Global South, and the role of interdisciplinary frameworks. Key themes include technological governance, digital inequality, climate change, urban transformation, and human rights in digital spaces. The research track will highlight how developing economies are not only case studies but also producers of theoretical insights that can shape global debates.

Some illustrative questions could include the following:

• What are the challenges to policymaking for sustainability in India and how can they be addressed?
• How do law and policy interact in the face of uncertainty?
• What are the emerging policy issues within sectors that require further research? What lessons can be drawn from comparative studies of governance in the Global South?
• What has been the impact of networks and actors on governance?
• How can developing economies balance innovation and regulation in policymaking?
• What are some new concepts and methodologies that are relevant to public policy research in India?
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