India in Transition - Conclave 2026 marks an important milestone in the India State Stories Project.  The conclave aims to present key outputs of the project and initiate discussions on how historical and spatial insights about India’s administrative evolution can inform contemporary debates on governance, federalism, planning, and public policy.

Key Releases

The conclave will feature the release of two major knowledge outputs emerging from the project:

1. Coffee Table Book
   Mapping the Republic: A Visual Story of India’s States and Districts (1950-2025)
   This publication presents a visually rich narrative of the evolution of India’s states and districts since Independence. Through maps, timelines, and data visualizations, the book documents the dynamic processes of territorial reorganization and administrative change across the country.
2. Federalism Primer and State Pullouts
   Prepared in collaboration with the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, this resource provides concise and richly illustrated state-level briefs designed to support public understanding of India’s federal structure and the current issues in Federalism facing Indian states

Speakers and Participants

The conclave will feature remarks and discussions with distinguished public officials and scholars, including:

• Shri Mahesh Bhagwat, IPS, Additional Director General of Police, Telangana
• Shri Shekhar Gaikwad, IAS, Additional Director General, YASHADA, Pune
• Contributors from the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy
• Members of the India State Stories research team