India Today Conclave 2012-AN ASIAN CENTURY: Securing the Global Promise

NEW DELHI, March 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

- Introduces Thinktent, a platform for aspiring professionals and students to interact with speakers

- Live budget analysis roundtable managed by Business Today editors

The India Today Conclave, India's largest thought festival for the finest minds from across the country and the world, is scheduled to take place in the capital on March 16-17, 2012. The theme this year is, The Asian Century: Securing the Global Promise. The focus, as usual, is on contemporary concerns as well as on innovations. But the Conclave will have a wider reach this year. Because India Today firmly believes that the more ideas are shared the bigger they become.

ThinkTent: Free thinking for free
The India Today Conclave goes free. ThinkTent, a brand new innovation this year, to increase the reach of the Conclave and to engage the India of tomorrow-young executives and management students. Conceived as an outdoor event in a massive and comfortable tent, ThinkTent will beam proceedings live, via giant screens, concurrently with the Conclave. Not just that, the audience will get the opportunity to interact with Conclave speakers, who will also be available for photo ops and autograph sessions. One can register for ThinkTent at the Conclave website and, if selected, can be a part of ThinkTent for free.

Budget Buster: debrief from Finance Minister

The Conclave is proud to present a debriefing session from the Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, a day after he presents the budget to the nation. March 17, Day 2 of Conclave, will  open with the Finance Minister's keynote address, explaining his budget. Delegates will get the rare opportunity of interacting with him over a Q&A session.

The Inheritors: meet the leaders of tomorrow
Meet and greet Akhilesh Yadav, the most talked-about new face of tomorrow's India. On March 17, when the young Samajwadi Party leader, who has pedaled his party to sweeping electoral success, will address the Conclave. But he will not be the only one. There will be the opportunity to listen to a range of new heirs of political dynasties from across India and its neighbours-from Namal Rajapaksa, MP, Sri Lanka, to Sajeeb Wazed, Special Adviser to Awami League, Bangladesh, Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir and Shehrbano Taseer,  Journalist, Pakistan. "Is Dynasty a Burden or Boon?"

Budget Studio@India Today Conclave
With India Today's culture of being in step with news, this year there will be a concurrent session, The Business Today Budget Studio@India Today Conclave, on March 16. The live budget coverage will be accompanied by senior editors from Business Today, India's premier-most business magazine, and experts from the world of finance explaining the implications of the budget and answer all queries.

Conclave As Usual: A Star-studded Line-up

As usual, the Conclave promises to be a star-studded affair. Beginning with an inaugural keynote address by social activist Anna Hazare on 'Yeh Dil Maange No More Corruption', the two-day conference will reflect the full range of contemporary interests, passions and concerns: be it India's favourite cricketers Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh on the zigzagging fortunes of Indian cricket, or superstar Kareena Kapoor on the rise of the New Heroine in Bollywood, to His Excellency Anwar Bin Ibrahim, Leader of Opposition and Former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, on arguments for democracy or a keynote address by Henry Kissinger, Former Secretary of State of the United States of America and Nobel Laureate. The conclave will close with  Imran Khan,  Pakistan's legendary cricket captain and chairman of the political outfit, Tehreek-e-Insaf, delivering the Dinner Keynote address. The event will be followed by a gala dinner, specially created by British gourmet chef, Rob Rees.

With some of the finest minds from around the world assembling in New Delhi, The India Today Conclave will once again provide the perfect platform for a free and frank exchange of ideas.

Vishwalok Nath
Head - Marketing and Syndications
India Today Group Digital
digital.marketing@intoday.com
+91-120-4078000