Reimagining India’s Economy: A Conversation with former BCG Chairman and Planning Commission Member Arun Maira

What kind of economy does India need—not just to grow, but to serve its people with dignity and purpose? In this episode, we speak with Arun Maira, former Member of India’s Planning Commission, Chairman of BCG India, and author of Reimagining India’s Economy: An Inquiry into the Real Costs of Economic Growth.

Tracing his journey from Tata Motors to the highest levels of government, Maira reflects on what it takes to transform systems—both economic and institutional. He shares lessons from his work on industrial policy, capability-building, and ethical leadership, and calls for a bold shift away from GDP obsession toward a model grounded in inclusion, learning, and care.

We discuss:

• Why India is at a moral and economic crossroads

• What a “learning economy” looks like in practice

• How to design jobs-led growth that restores dignity to work

• Why systems thinking and listening must be central to leadership today

A compelling conversation with one of India’s most original thinkers on development, purpose, and how to shape an economy that works for everyone.