Ecolore-XIII: Loreto College’s National Summit Explores India’s Economic Transformation

The Department of Economics at Loreto College (Autonomous), Kolkata, organised Ecolore-XIII, its annual one-day national-level students’ summit, on October 9, 2026. Centred on the theme “Mapping the Milestones: Policy Shifts and Structural Transformations – Tracing the Path to Viksit Bharat”, the summit brought together students from prominent colleges and universities across Kolkata to examine India’s economic development and the policy changes shaping its future. An important initiative of the department, Ecolore has been organised annually since 2014 to nurture economic reasoning, critical thinking and informed discussions on contemporary issues. The platform also encourages students to express their ideas creatively while engaging with complex economic questions.

The theme for the 2026 edition drew inspiration from India’s ambition to become a developed nation by 2047, marking 100 years of independence. Discussions were linked to the eight pillars of the Viksit Bharat vision, encompassing economic transformation, digital empowerment, social inclusion, education and skill development, healthcare, infrastructure, sustainable energy, and governance and citizen participation. The summit also highlighted the importance of examining India’s development journey through the combined perspectives of policy formulation, structural change and youth-led innovation. A distinctive feature of this year’s summit was that its planning and execution were undertaken entirely by the department’s third-year students under the guidance of faculty members.

The proceedings commenced with an opening address by Saloni Roy, the organising secretary and a third-year Economics student. Dr. Suranjana Mitra, the department’s senior-most faculty member, then delivered the welcome address. Riddhi Dutta, the second organising secretary and also a third-year student, introduced the keynote speaker. Professor Rajeshwari U R from Christ University, Bengaluru, attended the summit as the keynote speaker and shared her insights on the pathways towards Viksit Bharat and India’s transition to developed-economy status. Her address explored the broader developmental vision and provided an intellectual framework for the day’s discussions, encouraging participants to consider the economic and policy dimensions of the country’s long-term aspirations.

The summit’s competitive activities were conducted through parallel sessions, with participants representing 20 colleges and universities taking part in different events. The pre-lunch sessions featured paper presentations and a shark-tank round. While the paper presentations gave students an opportunity to demonstrate their analytical abilities and engage with economic issues through research and reasoned arguments, the shark-tank segment challenged them to develop ideas with the potential to become viable enterprises. Following lunch, participants competed in a debate and a policy hackathon. The debate tested their ability to construct persuasive arguments and defend their viewpoints, while the policy hackathon focused on developing practical responses to policy-related challenges. An essay-writing competition was also organised, completing a programme of five distinct formats through which students could present their perspectives on economic and developmental issues. Experts from diverse fields, including academia, policymaking and debating, evaluated the competitions.

One of the notable moments of the summit came when Loreto College (Autonomous) received the Best College Award. In a gesture highlighting sportsmanship and camaraderie, the host institution graciously handed the award to the runner-up, The Heritage College, Kolkata. The valedictory session marked the conclusion of the programme, with Dr. Suranjana Mitra delivering the vote of thanks and Sr. (Dr.) A. Nirmala, the teacher-in-charge of Loreto College, offering a prayer.