Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP) hosted the highly anticipated HR Next 2.0 – The HR Conclave on Friday, 28 November 2025, at the CIMP campus. Building on the success of its inaugural edition, this year’s conclave poised bigger in scale, broader in participation, and deeper in intellectual engagement.
The event started with lighting of lamp by the dignitaries followed by welcome speech by Prof. Vibhash Kumar, Placement Chairperson & HR Next Conclave Chair, said “HR Next has been conceived as a dynamic platform, and this year we are privileged to welcome distinguished HR professionals who will share valuable insights on Artificial Intelligence and digital transformation in the workplace. The conclave features a rich lineup of events, including HR Unplugged, HR Tech Session, HR InnovateX – the HR Hackathon, HR Quest – ET Quiz Contest, and the HR Pinnacle Awards. I am confident that these sessions and interactions will prove to be immensely rewarding for every participant”.
Prof. (Dr) Rana Singh, Director, CIMP said, “It is a matter of great pride to host HR Next 2.0 at CIMP. As India stands as one of the largest providers of human capital, it is crucial for HR professionals to continuously upgrade their skills and embrace emerging technologies. With Artificial Intelligence reshaping workplace systems, redefining skill requirements, and transforming organisational culture, meaningful collaboration between academia and industry has become more important than ever. I am confident that this conclave will inspire fresh perspectives, shape the future of HR, and leave every participant enriched.”
The Chief Guest at the Conclave was Mr. Raj Kumar Dubey, Director, Human Resources, Bharat Petroleum & Chairman, Indraprastha Gas Ltd said “In the evolving field of HR, businesses often know more about their people than HR itself. With AI’s immense power to influence and transform, the true challenge lies in developing HR skills that embrace technology while preserving the human touch.”
The Guests of Honour present were Dr. Mukesh Ranjan Das, Executive Director, HR, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Mr. Rajesh Kumar Singh, Senior Vice President – HR, KPIT Technologies, Mr. Sajid Iqbal, CHRO & Senior Vice President – HR, Brigade Group, Mr Shivesh Singh, Head – Business HR, Bandhan Bank, Kolkata; Mr. Setu Shah, Senior Director, Global Product Strategy, Oracle: Mr. Prasenjit Das, HR Business Partner at Nuvoco Cements; Ms. Rina Pandey, Regional HR at Ultratech Cement; Mr. Amir Usmani, HR Manager at GE Transportation; and Mr. Kumar Priyaranjan, Founder & CEO of Attitude & Intelligence Learning Systems along with several other distinguished industry personalities.
The HR Unplugged Panel Discussion, on the theme “Smart Tech with Human Touch – How HR is Shaping the Future with AI,” was hosted by Rajasshrie Pillai of CIMP which featured an esteemed panel comprising Mr. Raj Kumar Dubey, Dr. Mukesh Ranjan Das, Mr. Rajesh Kumar Singh, Mr. Shivesh Singh, and Mr. Sajid Iqbal. The session delved into the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in human resource management, while emphasising the importance of balancing technology with empathy and human connection. It further explored how individuals can better prepare themselves for the rapidly evolving job market and highlight the critical skills needed to succeed in an AI-driven workplace.
The HR Tech Session, led by Mr. Setu Shah, Senior Director – Global Product Strategy at Oracle, on the theme “AI & You: How Tech is Rewriting the Future of Jobs, Skills & People Strategy,” highlighted the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in reshaping HR practices. The agenda covered AI driven talent acquisition, agile HR operations, the future of learning and development, HR analytics, and the ethical dimensions of technology in people management. In particular, AI is revolutionizing recruitment by streamlining candidate sourcing, enhancing screening accuracy, and enabling predictive insights into talent potential. By automating repetitive tasks and leveraging data driven decision making, AI empowers HR professionals to focus on building meaningful human connections while ensuring faster, fairer, and more efficient hiring in the digital age.
Panel Discussion 2, on the theme “HR in the Age of AI: Skills Every Future Manager Must Master to be Corporate Ready,” brought together an esteemed panel of industry leaders including Mr. Prasenjit Das; Ms. Rina Pandey; Mr. Amir Usmani; and Mr. Kumar Priyaranjan. The session was moderated by Prof. Mamta Singh of CIMP. This engaging discussion focused on the critical skills future managers must acquire to thrive in an AI-driven corporate environment, highlighting how technology, adaptability, and human-centric leadership will shape the next generation of HR practices.
HR InnovateX, the HR Hackathon, brought the top six finalist teams who presented innovative solutions to pressing HR challenges before a distinguished jury.
Adding to the excitement, HR Quest – the ET Quiz Contest organized in collaboration with The Economic Times tested participants’ knowledge of HR trends and practices in a dynamic format.
The HR Quest–ET Quiz Team event concluded with outstanding performances from all participants. Anjali Sinha and her team secured the First Position, followed by Kumar Nishant and his team in Second Place, while Devansh Seth and his team achieved the Third Position, showcasing remarkable knowledge and teamwork throughout the competition.
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The conclave culminated with the prestigious HR Pinnacle Awards, celebrating and recognizing exemplary HR best practices adopted by leading corporates. Together, these segments promised to make HR Next 2.0 a truly enriching and inspiring experience for all attendees.
The vote of thank was delivered by Mr. Kumod Kumar, CAO, CIMP, he said “On behalf of CIMP, it is my proud privilege to extend a heartfelt vote of thanks as we conclude this remarkable edition of HR Next 2.0 – The HR Conclave. To all our delegates and participants, thank you for your enthusiastic engagement. Your presence and active involvement has made HR Next 2.0 not just an event, but a collective journey towards shaping the future of human resource management.”
