‘India’s economic reforms have provided a good opportunity for venturing into new ideas and experimenting with business and entrepreneurship’, remarked Mr. Dhruv Rajani, Financial Consultant and Entrepreneur. Mr. Rajani was the Chief Guest at the inaugural session of ‘Niti Samvaad 2.0’ the National Undergraduate Student Colloquium and Competition organized by VVM’s Shree Damodar College of Commerce & Economics, Margao. In his inaugural address, Mr. Dhruv Rajani presented a brief history of the recent changes in the Indian economy related to trade, Balance of Payments, demonetization, GST, inflation, GDP, petrol prices, foreign policy and their implications. He also emphasized the need for entrepreneurship amongst the youth in order to promote self-employment.
Principal Dr. Prita D. Mallya welcomed the gathering and Dr. Manoj Kamat, Convenor of Niti Samvaad familiarized the audiences with the theme of the Colloquium.
Niti Samvaad is a unique research-based event for Undergraduate students, organized by Shree Damodar College. The participant colleges had to select any one of the following topics: – ‘Issues Plaguing the Indian Banking Sector’ and ‘Has the Start-Up Revolution Really Started?’ The Colloquium and Competition was conducted in three rounds. The first round was the pre-qualification off-line round, where a panel of judges independently evaluated the submissions and five teams qualified for the finals. The qualifying teams were Christ University, Bangalore, R. A. Podar College, Mumbai, St Xavier’s College, Mapusa, Carmel College, Nuvem and Chowgule College, Margao.
Round 2 was the technical round, wherein the qualifying teams made a formal technical presentation and answered questions from the judges and the audience at large. Mr. Suhas Mallya, Mr. Rajendra Kumbharjuvencar and Mr. Vasant V. Sail were the judges.
Round 3 was a 7-minute non-technical presentation. The selected teams made a presentation aimed at the layman. The judges for this round were Mr. Amber Kamat, Adv. Rajiv Shinkre and Mr. Siddesh Bhagat.
Niti Samvaad 2.0 introduced a new session – a Panel discussion of the guiding teachers along with industry representatives. The judges for this round were Ms. Mridula Goel, Mr. Kedar Phadke and CMA Rammohan Menon.
Mr. Rajkumar Kamat, the President of Goa Small Industries Association presided over the Prize distribution and Valedictory function on the second day of the Colloquium. In his speech he stressed upon the importance of passion and advised the students to be passionate about whatever they decide to take up as a career. Mr. Kamat recounted some of his firsthand experiences in mentoring entrepreneurship in Goa.
At the end of Niti Samvaad 2.0, Christ University, Bengaluru were declared winners. St Xavier’s College, Mapusa and R.A Podar College, Mumbai bagged the second and third place respectively.
Individual category winners were:
Best Speaker – Technical Round: Ms. Lynessa Linson, St. Xavier’s College, Mapusa
Best Speaker – Non-Technical Round: Ms. Deeya Chabra, R A Podar College, Mumbai
Best Research Paper: R A Podar College, Mumbai
Best Guiding Teacher: Dr. Girish S., Christ University, Bengaluru
Best Q&A session: Christ University, Bengaluru
Most Innovative Policy Prescription: Christ University, Bengaluru
