IIMA IGPC Gold Conference 2026: The 9th IGPC-IIMA Annual Gold & Gold Markets Conference 2026 commenced on a strong note today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, bringing together leading voices from the bullion, policy, finance, and jewellery sectors. Organized by the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) and the India Gold Policy Centre (IGPC), the two-day conference is being held from May 21 to May 22, 2026.
The event opened with the traditional lamp-lighting ceremony and inaugural session, setting the stage for key discussions on the future of gold markets and the evolving global financial ecosystem. The inaugural ceremony was graced by Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA, Prof. Sundaravalli Narayanaswami, Chairperson, IGPC, Sachin Jain, Regional CEO India, World Gold Council, Avinash Gupta, Vice Chairman, All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC), and Amit Singla from the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.
Their thought-provoking inaugural addresses set the tone for the conference, highlighting the significance of gold in shaping economic resilience, policy discourse, and market innovation.
Policymakers, refiners, jewellers, researchers, exchanges, and technology experts from across the industry have gathered under one platform to discuss this year’s theme, “Trust by Design – The New Tech-Powered Gold Economy,” focusing on the role of blockchain, AI-driven compliance systems, and digital infrastructure in enhancing transparency, efficiency, and trust in the global gold market ecosystem.
Key Highlights
- Date: May 21 to May 22, 2026
- Venue: Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India
- Event: 9th IGPC-IIMA Annual Gold & Gold Markets Conference 2026
- Theme: “Trust by Design – The New Tech-Powered Gold Economy”
Complete IGPC 2026 Event Schedule
DAY-01: Thursday, 21 May, 2026
Registration & Networking (09:00 AM Onwards)
- Delegate check-in and registration commence.
Inaugural Session (10:00 AM – 10:15 AM)
- Event: Lamp Lighting & Inauguration (followed by National Anthem)
- Dignitaries:
- Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director-IIMA
- Prof. Sundaravalli Narayanaswami, Chairperson-IGPC, Faculty-IIMA
- Mr. Sachin Jain, Regional CEO India, World Gold Council
- Mr. Avinash Gupta, Vice Chairman, All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC)
- Mr. Amit Singla, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance
Welcome Address & Official Opening (10:15 AM – 10:30 AM)
- Speaker: Prof. Sundaravalli Narayanaswami, Chairperson-IGPC, Faculty-IIMA
Inaugural Address (10:30 AM – 10:45 AM)
- Speaker: Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA
Opening Presentation (10:45 AM – 11:00 AM)
- Speaker: Prof. Sundaravalli Narayanaswami, Chairperson-IGPC, Faculty-IIMA
Keynote Session (11:00 AM – 11:20 AM)
- Speaker: Mr. Sachin Jain, World Gold Council
Declaration of MCX Awards (11:20 AM – 11:30 AM)
- Presenter: Mr. Shivanshu Mehta, MCX
Keynote Session (11:30 AM – 11:45 AM)
- Speaker: Mr. Mohit Makhija, Crisil Ratings Ltd.
Panel I: Gold Demand: From Value to Identity – Has It Matured? (11:45 AM – 12:45 PM)
- Focus: Tracking the shift from financial security to emotional and cultural significance.
- Moderator: Mr. Sachin Jain, World Gold Council
- Panelists:
- Mr. Suvanker Sen, Senco (Online)
- Mr. Ajay Mehra, Mehrasons Jewellers
- Mr. Avinash Gupta, GJC
- Mr. Vishnu Prasath, Emerald
Lunch Break (01:00 PM – 02:00 PM)
Academic Paper Presentations: Session I (02:00 PM – 03:00 PM)
- Session Chair: Mr. Somasundaram PR
- Presenters:
- Dr. Sulagna Mukherjee
- Dr. Bala Subramanian R
- Dr. Samaresh Bardhan
Industry Paper Presentations: Session I (03:00 PM – 03:50 PM)
- Presenters:
- Mr. Anirudh Menon, Finmet
- Mr. Senthil Indiran, Oracle
- Mr. Dan Holmes, Gold Principles Group (Online)
Panel II: Inhibitions, Tentativeness, and Complexity (03:50 PM – 04:45 PM)
- Focus: Identifying what is holding back the true growth potential of the market.
- Moderator: Mr. Sudheesh Nambiath, Ministry of Economy & Tourism, UAE
- Panelists:
- Mr. Vishnu Prasath, Emerald
- Mr. James Jose, CGR Metalloys
- Mr. Saurabh Kumar, Rupeek
- Mr. Keyur Shah, Muthoot Pappachan Group
- Mr. Haresh Acharya, Parker Precious
Keynote Session (04:45 PM – 05:00 PM)
- Speaker: Ms. Praveena Rai, MCX
Panel III: Future Lens on Gold Markets: Identifying Today’s Missing Pillars (05:00 PM – 06:00 PM)
- Focus: Moving beyond the shine to spot deep structural gaps in gold markets.
- Moderator: Harshal Barot, Metals Focus
- Panelists:
- Mr. Arindam Goswami, Policy Consensus Centre
- Mr. Shivanshu Mehta, MCX
- Mr. Ashok Gautam, IIBX
- Mr. Manish Goel, ICICI
- Mr. Nagendra Kumar, DGCX
- Mr. Ramakrishnan Padmanabhan, IFSCA (Online)
Academic Paper Presentations: Session II (06:00 PM – 06:30 PM)
- Session Chair: Prof. Priya Narayanan
- Presenters:
- Dr. Kirtiranjan Das
- Mr. Shubham Patil
- Prof. Priya Narayanan
Evening Network & Culture
- Conference Dinner: (07:00 PM Onwards)
DAY-02: Friday, 22 May, 2026
- Registration & Morning Networking (09:30 AM Onwards)
Chief Guest Address (10:00 AM – 10:30 AM)
- Speaker: Dr. Hasmukh Adhia, IAS (Retd), Principal Advisor to Hon. Chief Minister, Gujarat
Panel IV: Rewriting Gold Trade Policy: Building India’s Global Gold Hub (10:30 AM – 11:30 AM)
- Focus: Re-positioning India at the strategic heart of the global gold ecosystem.
- Moderator: Mr. Somasundaram PR
- Panelists:
- Mr. Anshuman Sharma, Stonex
- Ms. Krishna Gangopadhyay, IIDI
- Mr. Manish Goel, ICICI
- Mr. Manish Gavaskar, YES Bank
- Mr. Arnav Datta, MCX CCL
- Mr. Ajay Mehra, Mehrasons Jewellers
Industry Paper Presentations: Session II (11:30 AM – 12:00 PM)
- Presenters:
- Mr. Sudheesh Nambiath, Ministry of Economy & Tourism
- Mr. Vishnu Prasath, Emerald
Academic Paper Presentations: Session III (12:00 PM – 12:30 PM)
- Session Chair: Mr. Sudheesh Nambiath
- Presenters:
- Dr. Moni M & Mr. Sreeraj V
- Dr. Anil Kumar Pandey
Special Chief Guest Address (12:30 PM – 01:00 PM)
- Speaker: Dr. Sridhar Vembu, Founder, Zoho Corporation
Lunch Break (01:00 PM – 02:00 PM)
Academic Paper Presentations: Continuation (02:00 PM – 03:00 PM)
- Presenters:
- Ms. Gunjan K
- Prof. Sundaravalli Narayanaswami, Faculty – IIMA
- Prof. Abhiman Das, Faculty- IIMA
Panel V: Rewiring Gold Markets: The Digital and Tokenized Future (03:00 PM – 04:00 PM)
- Focus: Bridging physical legacy with cutting-edge digital fintech innovation.
- Moderator: Mr. Johnson Lewis, Finmet
- Panelists:
- Mr. Ketan Kothari, Augmont
- Mr. Nishchay AG, Jar Digital Venture
- Mr. Harshit Gupta, MMTC PAMP
- Ms. Rhea Chaterji, Safegold
- Mr. Gernot Hinteregger, GoldInvest
Panel VI: Players, Policy, and Priorities (04:00 PM – 04:45 PM)
- Focus: Evaluating self-regulation frameworks—can they successfully work in India’s complex gold market?
- Moderator: Mr. Surendra Mehta, IBJA
- Panelists:
- Mr. Rajesh Rokde, GJC
- Mr. Dileep Narayanan, Malabar Group
- Mr. Vishnu Prasath, Emerald
- Mr. Ankur Goyal, MMTC-PAMP
- Mr. Kaushlendra Sinha, IAGES
- Ms. Jennifer Difiva, DDC MPEZ
Official Vote of Thanks (04:45 PM – 05:00 PM)
- Speaker: Ms. Mini Nair, AGM – IGPC, IIMA
Conference Conclusion
- High Tea & Valedictory Networking: (05:00 PM Onwards)
FAQ’s
1. What is the IGPC-IIMA Annual Gold & Gold Markets Conference 2026?
The IGPC-IIMA Annual Gold & Gold Markets Conference 2026 is a major international summit focused on the future of the gold industry, bullion trade, financial markets, policy frameworks, and technology-driven transformation in the precious metals ecosystem.
2. When and where is the conference being held?
The conference is being held from May 21 to May 22, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam located in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India.
3. Who are the key organizers and speakers at the event?
The event is organized by Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and India Gold Policy Centre. Key speakers and dignitaries include Prof. Bharat Bhasker, Prof. Sundaravalli Narayanaswami, Sachin Jain, and Sridhar Vembu.
4. What is the main theme of the 2026 conference?
The central theme of the conference is “Trust by Design – The New Tech-Powered Gold Economy.” Discussions are focused on blockchain technology, AI-based compliance systems, tokenized gold markets, digital transparency, fintech innovation, and policy modernization in the global bullion industry.
5. Why is this conference important for the global gold market?
The conference serves as a major platform for policymakers, refiners, jewellers, exchanges, banks, fintech firms, and institutional experts to discuss challenges and opportunities in the evolving gold ecosystem. It aims to strengthen India’s position as a global gold hub while promoting transparency, digital innovation, and international collaboration in the precious metals sector.
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