Pune Public Policy Festival Returns for Third Edition in January 2026

Essential brief

Key facts

The Pune Public Policy Festival returns for its third edition on January 9-10, 2026, at GIPE.

The 2026 theme is 'Decoding Technology and Society,' focusing on technology’s impact on public policy and society.

The event gathers policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and innovators for discussions and workshops.

It aims to foster collaborative approaches to technology governance and address challenges like privacy and ethics.

The festival highlights Pune’s growing role as a center for policy dialogue and innovation.

Highlights

The Pune Public Policy Festival returns for its third edition on January 9-10, 2026, at GIPE.

The 2026 theme is 'Decoding Technology and Society,' focusing on technology’s impact on public policy and society.

The event gathers policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and innovators for discussions and workshops.

It aims to foster collaborative approaches to technology governance and address challenges like privacy and ethics.

The Pune Public Policy Festival (PPPF) is set to make a comeback for its third edition on January 9 and 10, 2026. Hosted at the Gokhale Institute of Politics & Economics (GIPE), the event promises to be a significant gathering of policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and innovators. The festival’s focus this year is on "Decoding Technology and Society," aiming to explore the complex interplay between technological advancements and their societal impacts.

Over the course of two days, participants will engage in a variety of sessions including panel discussions, keynote speeches, and workshops. These sessions are designed to foster dialogue around how emerging technologies are shaping public policy and societal norms. The festival provides a platform for influential speakers from diverse fields to share insights, challenge prevailing assumptions, and propose forward-thinking solutions.

The choice of GIPE as the venue underscores the festival’s commitment to grounding policy discussions in rigorous academic research. This setting encourages a multidisciplinary approach, bridging economics, political science, technology, and social sciences. Attendees can expect to gain a deeper understanding of how policies can be crafted to harness technology’s benefits while mitigating risks such as privacy concerns, digital divides, and ethical dilemmas.

The PPPF’s return highlights the growing recognition of the importance of public policy in navigating the rapid pace of technological change. By bringing together stakeholders from government, industry, and academia, the festival aims to create collaborative frameworks that ensure technology serves the public good. It also reflects Pune’s emergence as a hub for policy innovation and intellectual exchange.

Looking ahead, the festival’s discussions could influence policy directions at regional and national levels. The insights generated may help shape regulations around data governance, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and more. For participants, the PPPF offers a unique opportunity to network, learn, and contribute to shaping the future of technology policy in India.

In summary, the Pune Public Policy Festival 2026 is an important event that addresses the critical nexus of technology and society. Its third edition promises to build on previous successes by fostering meaningful conversations that can drive impactful policy outcomes.