Jamshedpur, September 19: XLRI Jamshedpur has joined hands with Jharkhand’s Industries Department and Invest India to launch 15 live projects under the newly created Jharkhand Industrial Policy Lab, a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at strengthening governance, infrastructure, MSME competitiveness and sustainability in the state.
The projects were unveiled at an orientation session at XLRI, where Shri Varun Ranjan, IAS, managing director of the Jharkhand Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (JIIDCO) and Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority (JIADA), outlined the government’s vision for transforming the state’s industrial landscape.
Invest India and consultancy firm EY, serving as knowledge and consulting partners, presented execution strategies and highlighted the policy relevance of the projects.
About 30 student teams from XLRI will participate, some through an elective course on public policy and others under the institute’s Committee for Public Policy Research (CPPR). Students will receive structured guidance and periodic reviews, with a focus on reforms to enhance Jharkhand’s industrial investment ecosystem.
“This is a rare opportunity for students to shape state policy and contribute to national development,” said Prof. Kalyan Bhaskar, associate professor of strategic management at XLRI. Ranjan said the partnership marked an effort to “co-create solutions that can drive Jharkhand’s industrial future.”
The initiative marks the first time in India that management students will contribute directly to live projects shaping government policy, according to the organisers. For Invest India, the knowledge generated will be applied to build the capacity of state governments nationwide and improve the ease of doing business.
The session concluded with a networking dinner involving students, faculty, government officials and consultants. Organisers said the Industrial Policy Lab is expected to serve as a collaborative platform for innovation, policy analysis and implementation to drive inclusive and sustainable growth in Jharkhand.
