From AI to Nation-Building: DMA’s 70th Foundation Day Sets Bold Agenda For Viksit Bharat At 2047

New Delhi: The Delhi Management Association (DMA) marked a significant milestone as it celebrated its 70th Foundation Day at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre. The grand event commemorated seven

decades of DMA’s unwavering commitment to excellence in management, leadership, and nation-building.The celebration commenced with the ceremonial lamp lighting, Saraswati Vandana, and the National Anthem. Dr. NK Sharma, President of DMA, delivered the welcome address, reflecting on the association’s journey in fostering professional management practices and its evolving role in shaping future-ready leaders.The Chief Guest, Prof. Prateek Sharma, Vice Chancellor of Delhi Technological University (DTU), delivered a compelling Keynote Address. He highlighted the critical need for leadership, innovation, and adaptability in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence and digital transformation.Guest of Honour Prof. A. Venkat Raman, Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), University of Delhi, shared insights on the convergence of academia, technology, and responsible leadership, emphasising their role in preparing India for Viksit Bharat @ 2047.A key highlight of the event was the release of the DMA Souvenir and the presentation of the DMA Excellence Awards 2025. These awards recognised outstanding contributions across diverse domains:

• Excellence in Leadership – Supply Chain Management: Mr. Deepak Thukral, Head – Supply Chain, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (received by Mr. Abhay Jain)
• Excellence in Leadership – Social Impact: Mr. Mayur Gangurde, India Head – CSR, FIS Global
• Excellence in Leadership – MSME: Mr. Amit Gupta, Founder, Avayaya Solar Solutions
• Excellence in Leadership – Entrepreneurship: Dr. Rakesh Varma, Ex-IAS, Founder, ESGmitra and Co-Founder, EV Urjaa
• Excellence in Leadership – Startup: Ms. Prabha Sunder, Founder & CEO, PredictML.ai
• Excellence in Leadership – Student Startup: Mr. Pintoo Prajapati, Founder & CEO, PANHA

The day featured three thought-provoking panel discussions:

1. India @100: Vision for Viksit Bharat Moderated by Mr. Pranjal Sharma (Economic Analyst, Advisor, and Author), the panel included Mr. Shalabh Goel (MD, NCRTC), Mr. Sanjay Gupta (Country Head, L&T Semiconductor Technologies), and Mr. Sanjeev Govil (Advisor, India Accelerator).
2. Education in the Age of AI and Social Media: Challenges and Way Forward Moderated by Prof. Subhomoy Bhattacharjee (Consulting Editor, Business Standard), with insights from Prof. Prateek Sharma (VC, DTU), Prof. M.P. Gupta (Director, IIM Lucknow), and Prof. A. Venkat Raman (Dean, FMS, University of Delhi).
3. Leadership in the Age of Disruptions: Embracing New Technologies and Volatility Moderated by Mr. Suman Bose (GoFar Advisory, Singapore), featuring Mr. Abhay Jain (GM, Maruti Suzuki), Mr. Vivek Yadav (Executive VP, Havells India), and Mr. Dinkar Singh (Director, Public Affairs, UPS, Indian Subcontinent).

The celebration also included the felicitation of past presidents, cultural performances by DTU students, a networking session, and the distribution of commemorative T-shirts to DMA members.DMA’s 70th Foundation Day reaffirmed its dedication to fostering innovation, ethical leadership, and professional excellence — aligning with India’s vision for Viksit Bharat @ 2024 through collaboration, technology, and human capital development.