10–11 September 2026 | Presidency University, Bengaluru

 

The Presidency School of Commerce (PSoC), Presidency University, Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), New Delhi, successfully organised a two-day national seminar on “GST Reforms and Ease of Doing Business” on 10 and 11 September 2026 at Presidency University, Bengaluru.

 

The seminar brought together academicians, researchers, industry professionals, tax practitioners, policymakers and students to deliberate on the evolving GST landscape in India and its implications for businesses, consumers and the wider economy.

 

Inauguration Ceremony

 

The seminar was inaugurated on 10 September 2026 at 10.00 am in the presence of eminent dignitaries from academia, banking, government and the professional sector.

The programme was graced by Mr Badri Prasad, Commissioner of Customs and Indirect Taxes, Ministry of Finance, Bengaluru, Karnataka, as the Chief Guest, and Mr Madhavnankutty, Chief Economist, Canara Bank, Bengaluru, as the Guest of Honour.

 

The inauguration was further attended by Dr S. J. Thiruvengadam, Vice-Chancellor, Presidency University; Dr Dinesh Nilkant, Provost, Presidency University; Dr M. Padmavathi, Dean, School of Commerce; Dr Poornima Karthikeyan, HoD, PSoC; Dr Saba Inamdar, HoD In-Charge, PSoC; and Dr P. S. Joan Kingsly, Convenor and Assistant Professor – Senior Scale, School of Commerce, Presidency University.

 

The inaugural session set the tone for two days of academic deliberations on GST reforms and their role in strengthening India's business environment.

 

Academic Deliberations and Technical Sessions

 

The two-day national seminar featured an extensive academic programme comprising 23 resource persons, six technical sessions, two parallel paper presentation sessions and a panel discussion.

 

The technical sessions provided participants with opportunities to engage with contemporary issues relating to GST reforms, taxation, compliance, business competitiveness, pricing, consumer behaviour and the ease of doing business in India.

 

The parallel paper presentation sessions provided a platform for researchers and academicians to present their findings and exchange ideas on emerging issues in taxation, business, economic reforms and public policy.

 

A key highlight of the seminar was the panel discussion, which facilitated an engaging exchange of perspectives on the effectiveness of GST reforms and their contribution to simplifying business processes in India. The discussion brought together professionals, practitioners, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders, offering perse perspectives on the subject.

 

The participation of eminent resource persons, researchers, faculty members and students enriched the academic environment and fostered meaningful interaction among industry, academia and the research community.

 

Valedictory Session

 

The seminar concluded with an insightful valedictory address by Dr P. Arunachalam, PDT (The Netherlands), Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.

 

His address reflected on the discussions held during the two-day seminar and emphasised the importance of continued research, policy dialogue and collaborative academic engagement in understanding India's evolving taxation and business ecosystem.

 

The successful completion of the seminar marked a significant academic initiative by the Presidency School of Commerce towards promoting research, knowledge exchange and informed discussions on contemporary economic and business issues.

 

The seminar provided a vibrant platform for academicians, researchers, industry experts, policymakers, practitioners and students to share knowledge, present research, discuss challenges and explore opportunities arising from GST reforms and India's evolving business environment.

 

The Presidency School of Commerce, Presidency University, sincerely acknowledges the support and collaboration of ICSSR, New Delhi, the university leadership, distinguished resource persons, research scholars, faculty members, students and all members of the organising team for their valuable contributions to the successful conduct of the national seminar.

 

The two-day national seminar on “GST Reforms and Ease of Doing Business” concluded with meaningful academic deliberations, knowledge exchange and renewed perspectives on building a more efficient and business-friendly economic environment in India.