What Will Define India’s Next Decade of Growth?

‘What Will Define India’s Next Decade of Growth?’ That was the question on everyone’s lips as policymakers, investors, LBS alumni, and senior leaders gathered at London Business School’s India Conclave in Mumbai recently to explore India’s path to a $10 trillion economy.

Organised by LBS’s India Club, ‘Udaan: India’s Next Decade of Growth’ featured keynote addresses, fireside chats, and panel discussions with leading voices from the consumer sector, financial services, public policy, healthcare and technology industries. Conversations spanned capital markets, private investment, digital infrastructure, and the critical role of policy and geopolitics in shaping growth.

Offering insight into India’s place on the world stage and how collaboration between business and policy leaders can unlock the country’s next decade of opportunity were a host of renowned experts including Deepak Parekh, ex-Chairman of HDFC Bank, who provided the keynote address. He reflected on the evolution of India’s financial services sector, highlighting both the progress made and the structural gaps that must be addressed as the country scales.

Fireside chats with Lindy Cameron CB OBE, British High Commissioner to India, and Smriti Irani, Former Cabinet Minister, Government of India, highlighted the intersection of global policy and domestic priorities. Lindy Cameron used her session on ‘From Deal to Doing: UK India FTA’ to discuss the agreement as a meaningful inflection point for deepening trade flows and unlocking new avenues for economic collaboration between the two countries, while Smriti Irani reflected on the role of governance, policy continuity and institutional strength in enabling long-term growth.

Additional fireside chats saw Nilesh Shah, Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Co. Ltd., frame India’s trajectory as a convergence of entrepreneurship, infrastructure, and capital, expressing confidence in the durability of this growth cycle. Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals, addressed the future of healthcare delivery, highlighting the importance of strengthening systems and prioritising women’s health as a critical component of India’s growth. Ananya Birla, business leader and artist, spoke about the conviction required to build India’s next chapter, emphasising authentic storytelling, clear differentiation, and the emergence of new whitespaces for Indian brands.

There were also insightful panel discussions on investing in the next decade, featuring participants from Alpha Wave Global, JM Financial Ltd, A91 Partners, Bajaj Alternate Investment Management Ltd. Discussions pointed to a maturing investment landscape, with Alternative Investment Funds emerging as an increasingly important channel for long-term capital deployment, alongside a broader shift towards structural depth and disciplined capital allocation.

Placing India’s growth story within the broader global context, LBS Dean Sergei Guriev offered a forward-looking perspective on the opportunities and responsibilities that come with India’s rising global influence. His closing address highlighted India’s scale, demographic advantage and digital infrastructure, as well as its increasing role in addressing global challenges around climate, healthcare and digital systems. As a global bridge economy, India is well positioned to connect developed and emerging markets and play a critical role in linking capital with impact and innovation. He emphasised that India’s next decade will be shaped by choices around inclusion, sustainability and collaboration, and that global institutions such as LBS have a vital role to play in shaping leadership for this next phase of growth.

The conclave also featured a conversation with Ashish Shelar, Minister of Cultural Affairs, Government of Maharashtra, focusing on the role of Mumbai and Maharashtra in shaping India’s next phase of growth, particularly through urban development and infrastructure expansion.

What emerged across sessions was a consistent theme: India’s next decade will not be defined by a single sector or narrative, but by the alignment of capital, capability, and conviction across multiple fronts.

The India Conclave was organised by Sukanya Nambiar and Isha Choudhary, Co-Presidents of the LBS India Club, alongside Zia Sheikh, Head of the LBS India Alumni Club and Brian D’souza, Alumni Advisor, and the India Conclave Organising Committee.