Smriti Irani Inspires Future Changemakers at ‘Ignite Your Power’ Hosted by ICC Young Leaders Forum

HNExpress Staff Reporter : In a deeply impactful and thought-provoking session, Smriti Irani, former Union Minister and a prominent national leader, addressed a packed hall at ITC Sonar, Kolkata, at Ignite Your Power – an event curated by the Young Leaders Forum of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

The evening was designed as a platform for India’s next generation of entrepreneurs, professionals, and thought leaders to engage with a visionary who has not only held office but also created large-scale systems and frameworks that continue to shape India’s future.
In her address, Irani took the audience through her landmark contributions during her tenure as Education Minister. She shared how she travelled across the country – meeting district education officers, village councils, universities, PTAs, and even opposition MPs – to ensure that the National Education Policy was a reflection of collective national aspiration and not just a top-down directive. “This was not my policy or the Prime Minister’s policy,” she said. “This was a national policy, built by listening to every stakeholder who had a stake in our children’s future.”

Among her key initiatives, she highlighted:
The establishment of 25,000 village education councils to localize decision-making. The launch of SWAYAM, India’s first MOOCs platform, which now empowers over 2 crore learners across the country.
The digitization of the National Digital Library. The introduction of the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) to bring
transparency and competitiveness to higher education. Enabling curriculum autonomy for universities, allowing them to update syllabi in real-time.
Promoting adjunct faculty programs, encouraging industry professionals to teach and mentor students. And initiating the Gyan Programme, which brought over 2,000 academicians from the Indian diaspora to teach in India, with government support.

She also touched upon the challenges she faced while pioneering digital education as early as 2015. “People questioned the need for online courses back then. It was only when COVID hit that the entire country realized why we needed these systems in place. Vision
sometimes feels premature – until it becomes a necessity.”
The session was followed by an engaging Q&A, where attendees from varied backgrounds asked Irani about leadership, policymaking, and how young professionals can contribute to national development. Her responses were candid, practical, and layered with personal
insight.

Pratiik Jalan and Sagar Agarwal, Joint Chairs of the Young Leaders Forum, Indian Chamber of Commerce, shared their thoughts on the evening:

“It was an honour to host Smriti Irani for our flagship session, ‘Ignite Your Power.’ Her clarity, conviction, and connect with the audience was truly remarkable. She spoke not just as a politician but as a leader who believes in the power of people, partnerships, and purpose. This session has left all of us motivated to do more – for our sectors, for society, and for the
nation.”

The Young Leaders Forum of ICC has consistently aimed to bring young visionaries face-to-face with impactful changemakers, and this event marked a high point in their ongoing series of dialogue-driven, solution-oriented gatherings.