It is both a privilege and a matter of immense pride to share that the 70th Platinum Jubilee Annual General Meeting of the Madras Management Association will be held on Friday, 10 July 2026, at the MMA Management Center. This landmark AGM is far more than a statutory gathering; it is a celebration of seven decades of contribution to management thought, leadership development, and nation-building through professional excellence.
A highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the prestigious MMA Award for Managerial Excellence, which recognizes organizations that have demonstrated outstanding achievements across manufacturing, services, SMEs, and education. The award winners will participate in a special seminar, sharing their inspiring journeys of perseverance, innovation, and transformational leadership—lessons that are invaluable for today’s managers, entrepreneurs, and future leaders.
The occasion will also provide an opportunity to honour MMA’s distinguished Past Presidents, whose vision, dedication, and stewardship have shaped the Association into one of India’s foremost management institutions. It is fitting that we salute these remarkable leaders whose contributions continue to inspire generations of management professionals.
Adding to the significance of the event, MMA will launch Volume II of its coffee table book, capturing the Association’s vibrant post-pandemic journey; Volume III of “Turning Points – Management Lessons from Legends”; and a special commemorative issue of Business Mandate. Together, these publications reflect MMA’s enduring commitment to knowledge sharing and thought leadership.
We are truly privileged to welcome Mr T. V. Narendran, CEO & Managing Director, Tata Steel and President, AIMA, and Mr Thomas Dose, Managing Director, BMW Group Plant Chennai, as our distinguished Chief Guests. Their presence and insights will undoubtedly enrich the occasion and inspire all participants.
As we celebrate this historic milestone, I warmly invite all our members and well-wishers to join us on Friday, 10 July 2026, from 3.00 p.m. onwards, for an evening of recognition, reflection, learning, and fellowship, culminating in a grand Gala Dinner. It will be an opportunity to celebrate our shared achievements and reaffirm our commitment to excellence.
Let us come together to honour the past, celebrate the present, and shape the future of management leadership through the enduring spirit of MMA.
Education Beyond Marks: Preparing Students for Life
This issue’s cover story by Professor L. S. Ganesh, Former Vice Chancellor, ICFAI University, on “The Game of Life in the Classroom: On purpose, dharma, the learning cycle, and what it truly means to teach” is both timely and deeply relevant.
In a rapidly changing world, education is often judged by marks, rankings and placements. While academic excellence opens doors, the true purpose of education extends far beyond report cards. It is about shaping character, nurturing empathy, encouraging curiosity and preparing young people not merely for careers, but for life.
The future of education will be defined by how thoughtfully we design human learning, and by the role we assign to technology in supporting—not replacing—the teacher. Effective classrooms must encourage students to challenge ideas, ask difficult questions, think independently and learn through reflection, rather than simply reproduce information in examinations.
For India, this is not merely an educational priority; it is central to nation building. The talent we nurture today will shape the society, economy and leadership of tomorrow. Sustained institutional support, teacher training and assessment reforms are essential if classroom transformation is to become a reality across our schools and colleges.
Education reform must therefore move beyond policy intent to meaningful implementation. The classroom must become a space where purpose, values, knowledge and human potential come together.
India at a Demographic Crossroads: Will We Grow Old Before We Grow Rich?
The latest Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2024 has brought into sharp focus a critical demographic challenge for India. The report indicates that India’s Total Fertility Rate has declined below replacement level, signalling that the country may be moving towards a shrinking population if current trends continue.
However, India does not have one demographic story; it has many. Fertility levels vary widely across states, reflecting differences in education, income, health access, urbanisation and social development. While some states have already seen fertility fall sharply, others continue to record higher birth rates. This creates a complex policy challenge, especially for states that have successfully controlled population growth and achieved better development outcomes.
The implications are far-reaching. A declining fertility rate raises concerns about ageing, workforce availability, productivity and social security. At the same time, regional demographic imbalances have a direct bearing on resource allocation, political representation and the sensitive issue of delimitation. Kerala’s decision to establish a dedicated Department for the Elderly is a timely wake-up call for the rest of India. It is only a matter of time before many other states experience similar shifts in their population age structure. Governments must prepare for this transition by strengthening healthcare, social security and elderly care systems. Equally important is prudent fiscal planning. States would do well to reduce wasteful expenditure and create dedicated reserve funds to meet the growing demands of an ageing society.
The recent move by Andhra Pradesh to consider incentives to arrest population decline is a sign of the changing policy debate. India must ensure that it does not grow old before it grows rich. This calls for serious analysis, informed public debate and an urgent, balanced policy response.
Climate Change: The Workforce Challenge Businesses Can No Longer Ignore
Climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern; it is rapidly becoming a business and workforce challenge. While much of the discussion continues to focus on emissions, renewable energy, and sustainable infrastructure, organizations must also confront a more immediate reality—the impact of extreme weather on their employees.
Rising temperatures, prolonged heat waves, floods, and other climate-related disruptions are affecting the safety, health, and productivity of millions of workers across India. For businesses, the challenge extends beyond meeting sustainability goals. It is about ensuring that employees can work safely and effectively in increasingly harsh conditions.
India’s growth ambitions depend not only on investments and infrastructure development but also on the resilience of its workforce. Millions of workers, particularly those in manufacturing, construction, logistics, agriculture, and other outdoor occupations, operate without the comfort of climate-controlled environments. Protecting them from heat stress and weather-related risks must become a strategic priority.
Corporate India has an opportunity—and a responsibility—to lead by adopting climate-resilient workplace practices, investing in worker safety, and integrating climate adaptation into business planning. The future of sustainable growth will depend as much on safeguarding people as on reducing emissions.
Sanctions, Conflict and the Global Economy: Who Really Pays the Price?
The world economy continues to face uncertainty as geopolitical tensions intensify across key regions. Economic sanctions have become a preferred instrument of international pressure, but an important question remains: Do sanctions truly achieve their intended objectives, or do they create unintended consequences for the global economy?
With concerns over disruptions to critical energy routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, the risk of hydrocarbon shortages remains significant. Any constraint on the free flow of energy supplies has far-reaching implications, affecting inflation, trade, industrial production and economic growth across nations. For energy-importing countries such as India, oil price shocks can weaken demand, increase production costs and place additional pressure on economic stability.
History has shown that geopolitical tools that restrict supply chains and trade often carry costs that extend well beyond the parties directly involved. In an interconnected world, economic disruptions rarely remain confined to national borders. It is therefore in the collective interest of all nations to ensure that global trade, particularly in critical commodities such as energy, remains stable and uninterrupted.
Lasting peace may be difficult to achieve, but it remains essential for sustained global prosperity. At a time when economies are striving for growth and resilience, dialogue, cooperation and stability are far more valuable than measures that deepen uncertainty and economic hardship. The world cannot afford prolonged disruptions when the stakes for growth, development and human welfare are so high.
Confronting Jobless Growth: India’s Most Urgent Economic Challenge
India’s economic transformation since the liberalisation of 1991 has been remarkable. The country has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, lifting millions out of poverty and creating new opportunities across sectors. Yet, beneath this success story lies a growing concern—economic growth has not generated enough quality jobs for the millions entering the workforce each year.
As India stands at the threshold of becoming a developed nation, the challenge is not merely to sustain high growth but to make that growth more inclusive and employment-intensive. Millions remain unemployed or underemployed, while wealth and income have become increasingly concentrated among a small segment of society. The aspirations of middle-income households and young job seekers cannot be fulfilled without expanding opportunities for productive employment.
India’s demographic dividend, often described as its greatest advantage, is not permanent. The window of opportunity is narrowing. The nation must create sufficient jobs, strengthen skills, promote entrepreneurship, and encourage labour-intensive sectors if it is to become prosperous before it grows old. A strong and expanding middle class is essential for sustainable growth, robust consumption, social stability, and long-term economic resilience.
In this context, MMA is privileged to host a discussion on the thought-provoking book “India Out of Work: Rethinking India’s Growth Story” by Professor Dr. Santosh Mehrotra and Jajati Parida. A distinguished panel of experts will deliberate on this critical issue and explore pathways for creating a more inclusive and employment-oriented growth model.
We cordially invite corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, academicians, and students to join us or watch the discussion live through webinar at 6.00 p.m. on 22 June 2026. The deliberations promise valuable insights into one of the most important challenges facing India’s future.
As MMA enters its eighth decade of service to the management profession, we seek your partnership in taking the message of leadership, innovation, and managerial excellence to a wider audience. We encourage you to share this special issue of Business Mandate with like-minded professionals, business leaders, entrepreneurs, academicians, and young managers. Every shared idea has the potential to inspire a new leader, transform an organization, and contribute to a stronger nation.
As always, we would be delighted to receive your views, comments, and suggestions.
Happy Reading and Happy Sharing!
