The Delhi School of Economics (DSE), University of Delhi, today had the honour of welcoming the Hon’ble Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman, as the chief guest for the valedictory session of the DSE Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The session was presided over by Prof Yogesh Singh, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Delhi.
In her address, the Hon’ble Finance Minister reflected on the evolution and future trajectory of the Indian economy. She highlighted key dimensions, including fiscal management, India’s recent economic achievements, macroeconomic stability, and the role of technology and AI in driving forward-looking economic transformations. She also underscored the progress made in financial inclusion and India’s growing influence in the global economic landscape. Smt Sitharaman urged DSE researchers and students to believe in themselves and work to strengthen an indigenous perspective of economic analysis by engaging deeply with the realities of the Global South. She emphasised the significance of field-based, interdisciplinary and data-driven research in building a resilient and inclusive economy.
During the event, the Hon’ble Minister also announced that a team of researchers and students from the DSE would be invited annually to the Ministry of Finance to provide suggestions for the Union Budget—an announcement that was met with enthusiastic applause from the DSE students and faculty.
A special interactive segment was organised exclusively for students of the Delhi School of Economics, enabling them to engage directly with the Finance Minister. Students posed insightful and technically rigorous questions on macroeconomic policy, financial markets, public finance, and other dimensions of the economy. The Minister appreciated the quality of the discussions and encouraged students to contribute actively to India’s ongoing reforms and development agenda in order to achieve the target of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Prof. Yogesh Singh said that the event marked a memorable conclusion to the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, commemorating DSE’s academic excellence and contributions to global economic scholarship. The presence and engagement of the Hon’ble Finance Minister added immense value to the occasion and inspired the faculty and students to continue upholding the institution’s legacy.
