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India takes centre stage at CNBC-TV18 summit
MUMBAI: When the world talks business, India is clearly in the conversation. CNBC-TV18’s Global Leadership Summit 2025 turned the spotlight on The India Advantage, bringing together the world’s most influential minds to explore how the country is shaping the next wave of global growth.
Hosted at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, the second edition of the flagship summit saw a dynamic mix of policymakers, CEOs, economists, entrepreneurs, and cultural icons discuss everything from capital markets and artificial intelligence to real estate, trade, and innovation.
Opening the summit, CNBC-TV18 managing editor Shereen Bhan, celebrated 26 years of the channel’s leadership in business journalism, noting its digital reach that now spans millions across Youtube, X, Facebook, and Instagram.
The day began with a keynote from SEBI chairperson Tuhin Kanta Pandey, who described India’s capital markets as “central to the aspirations of Viksit Bharat”, emphasising that policy must evolve through dialogue and inclusion.
From there, conversations spanned the economic spectrum. Ridham Desai, Sankaran Naren, and Ashishkumar Chauhan discussed India’s rise as a global investment magnet. OpenAI’s Oliver Jay explored how businesses are turning artificial intelligence into opportunity, while ISRO chairman V. Narayanan spoke about India’s growing presence in space exploration.
Chief economic advisor Anantha Nageshwaran underlined how reforms and resilience are steering India toward global indispensability, while ministry of electronics and information technology’s S. Krishnan shared the government’s vision of responsible AI innovation.
As the day progressed, sessions with historian Niall Ferguson, NITI Aayog CEO B. V. R. Subrahmanyam, and Jio Financial Services chairman K. V. Kamath delved into geopolitics, policy, and financial transformation. Industry leaders from HSBC, Brookfield, DLF, and Google India added their insights on building a resilient, tech-driven economy.
Cultural and creative India also had its moment. Deepika Padukone and Sabyasachi Mukherjee discussed the power of heritage and storytelling on the global stage, while women’s cricket stars Sneh Rana and Shafali Verma reflected on redefining victory for a new generation.
The evening closed with Visa CEO Ryan McInerney’s keynote on global commerce and consumption trends, followed by music and celebration, fitting for a day that captured India’s confidence, creativity, and momentum on the world stage.
Presented by HSBC India, co-presented by Embassy Group, powered by Google, and supported by Associate Partners ITC, WeWork India, Embassy REIT, and Reliance Industries Limited. The CNBC-TV18 Global Leadership Summit 2025 was more than a meeting of minds, it was a masterclass in how The India Advantage is becoming the world’s opportunity.
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CNN-News18 to host Kolkata Town Hall on Hooghly River
‘Bhalobasa Bengal Inspiring Bharat’ event on April 20 brings cultural icons, trailblazing women and leaders aboard a cruise to celebrate Bengal’s enduring influence.
MUMBAI: Bengal is about to make fresh waves on the Hooghly and this time the current is pure conversation. CNN-News18 is taking its iconic Town Hall format to the waters of the iconic Hooghly River on 20 April 2026 with a special edition titled ‘Bhalobasa Bengal – Inspiring Bharat’. The floating event will celebrate the state’s rich cultural legacy and how its ideas, creativity and spirit continue to shape the rest of the country.
The unique riverside setting draws on Bengal’s history as a cradle of reform, art and intellectual thought. The speaker line-up mirrors that diversity: cultural heavyweights Mithun Chakraborty and Sreenanda Shankar will share the stage with trailblazing “Devis” such as Tanya Sanyal (India’s first woman firefighter in aviation), Ipsita Chakraborty (Kolkata’s first woman bartender) and Reshma Nilofer Visalakshi (Nari Shakti awardee and marine pilot). Music will flow through the celebrated pianist-vocalist duo Sourendro and Soumyojit, while public life and governance will be represented by Smriti Irani, Leander Paes, Saira Shah Halim, Keya Ghosh, Rekha Patra, Roopa Ganguly and Babul Supriyo.
CNN-News18, editorial affairs director, Rahul Shivshankar, said the event honours voices that carry Bengal’s legacy forward. Smriti Mehra, CEO – English & Business News, Network18, added that Bengal’s stories resonate far beyond its borders, especially as the state heads into polls.
From the first woman to battle flames in the skies to legendary actors who shaped Indian cinema, the gathering promises a rich mix of inspiration, courage and candid dialogue. In a city where culture has always flowed as freely as the river itself, CNN-News18 is turning the Hooghly into a floating forum for ideas that matter.
Tune in on 20 April on CNN-News18, CTV and YouTube to catch Bengal’s heartbeat in full flow.
