| Time | Session & Venue | Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| 07:30–09:00 | Registration and Help Desk Registration Area | Conference Secretariat |
| 09:00–09:40 | Opening and Keynote Session Vrihaspati Hall | Chair: NASC Executive Director Gunakar Bhatta [Vice Chairperson, National Planning Commission] Bhola Thapa [Vice Chancelor, Tribhuvan University] (TBC) Madhu Raman Acharya [PAAN President] Akhlaque Haque [SANPA President] Megh Raj Dangal [Dean, KUSOA] Achala Dahal [Chair, National Organizing Committee Jim Perry [Indiana University] Ian Elliot [University of Glasgow] |
| 09:40–10:30 | Reimagining Public Administration in South Asia Vrihaspati Hall | Mallika Shakya [South Asian University] |
| 10:30–11:00 | Tea Break: Dining Area | |
4 November | Technical parallel sessions
Track 1 I – Session 01 (S01) Public Administration & SDGs
4 Nov 2026 | 11:00–12:30 | Kumari Hall | Hybrid
Chair: Hari Dhungana [Nepal Open University]
Facilitator: Nabina Malekar [NASC]
| Time and code | Title |
|---|---|
| 11:00 T106 [Virtual] | Local Governance in Lahore: Socio-Economic Reform Initiatives and Institutional Realities Madiha Rehman Farooqi [University of Education] Shajara Ul-Durar [Institution to be confirmed] |
| 11:20 T117 [Virtual] | Coherence Without Convergence: Assessing India's Institutional Architecture for Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development Sandeep Inampudi [Central University of Karnataka] |
| 11:40 T107 | Governance Challenges in Child Protection: Lessons from Early Marriage Among Marginalized Communities in Nepal Kabita Khatiwada [Pokhara University] Dilip Raj Paudel [PAAN |
| 12:00 T102 | National Suicide Prevention Policies in South Asia: An Assessment Against the WHO's LIVE LIFE Policy Guidelines Anisur Rahman Khan [East West University] |
Track 1 I – Session 02 (S02) Public Administration & SDGs
4 Nov 2026 | 11:00–12:30 | Malashree Hall | Hybrid
Chair: Md. Mizanur Rahman [Center for Strategic and Peace Studies, Bangladesh]
Facilitator: Saroja Shakya [NASC]
| Time and code | Title |
|---|---|
| 11:00 T116 | Postcolonial Governance and SDG Localisation Challenges: Evidence from Bangladesh Md Mahmud Hasan [Shahjalal University of Science and Technology] |
| 11:20 T120 | Local Government Institutions for Inclusive Representation and Services Delivery Prashuram Upadhyaya [The Asia Foundation] |
| 11:40 T104 [Virtual] | Vertical Policy Synchronicity in Delivering Safe Drinking Water in Punjab, Pakistan Seemi Waheed [University of Management and Technology] |
| 12:00 T111 | Women Police Stations in Punjab (Pakistan): A Need for Reform Saffa Amjad [University of the Punjab] |
Track 4 IV – Session 03 (S03) Citizen-Centric Governance and Service Delivery
4 Nov 2026 | 11:00–12:30 | Chandrama Hall | Hybrid
Chair: Durga P Chhetri [Sikkim University]
Facilitator: Ganesh Kumar Sah [NASC]
| Time and code | Title |
|---|---|
| 11:00 T407 | Pre-Demolition Conference (PDC) on Securing Just and Humane Demolition/Eviction Activities in the Philippines John Patrick C. Olmedo [Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor] |
| 11:20 T413 [Virtual] | People's Participation and the Dynamics of Good Governance in Local Government: An Empirical Analysis of Selected Union Parishads in Chattogram District, Bangladesh Nakibul Islam Chowdhury [Bandarban University and University of Chittagong] Amir Mohammad Nasrullah [University of Chittagong] Muhammad Wahidur Rahman [Bandarban University] Md. Sahadat Hosain [Bandarban University] Shimul Tanchangya [Bandarban University] |
| 11:40 T408 | One-Stop Service Delivery in Nepal: An Intergovernmental Approach to Citizen-Centric Governance at the Grassroots Indra Bahadur Bhujel [PLGSP] |
| 12:00 T453 [Virtual] | The Impact of Citizens' Noncompliance in Co-Production: A Case Study of the Ban on Free Issuance of Polythene Bags in Sri Lanka Mayuri Kularathne [University of Ruhuna] Sanjana Nandasiri [Asia e University] |
Track 4 IV– Session 04 (S04) Citizen-Centric Governance and Service Delivery
4 Nov 2026 | 11:00–12:30 | Khaptad Hall | Hybrid
Chair: Mokbul Morshed Ahmad [Asia Institute of Technology]
Facilitator: Ankit Bhandari [NASC]
| Time and code | Title |
|---|---|
| 11:00 T441 | Awareness, Access and Cashless Care: Beneficiary Experiences Under Ayushman Bharat-PM-JAY in Varanasi District Parul Rai [Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University] Pradeep Kumar Singh [Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University] |
| 11:20 T444 [Virtual] | Exploring the Perceptions of Public Officials Regarding Citizen Engagement in Heritage Conservation and Management: A Case of Walled City of Lahore Authority, Pakistan Syeda Lalarukh [University of the Punjab, Lahore] Aisha Rizwan [University of the Punjab, Lahore] |
| 11:40 T447 [Virtual] | Co-Production of Public Services Using Digital Technologies: Drivers and Barriers to the Use of Pakistan Citizen Portal Sidra Irfan [University of the Punjab, Lahore] |
| 12:00 T431 [Virtual] | Exploring the Nexus Between Decentralisation and Urban Local Development in Bangladesh Mohammad Ishtiuq Hossain [Khulna University] Md Ahsanul Kabir [Khulna University] |
Track 6 VI– Session 05 (S05) Climate Change, Sustainability, and Inclusive Governance
4 Nov 2026 | 11:00–12:30 | Kailash Hall | Hybrid
Chair: Nisha Onta [GovLab]
Facilitator: Pratibha Paudel [NASC]
| Time and code | Title |
|---|---|
| 11:00 T623 | Significance of Nepali Vernacular Architecture in Terms of Tradition, Modernity & Cultural Sustainability: Rethinking Indigenous Building Knowledge for Climate-Resilient and Inclusive Governance in Nepal Saurav Koirala [Nepal Administrative Staff College] |
| 11:20 T615 [Virtual] | Governing Climate Change in Bangladeshi Cities: Bureaucratic Superimposition and the Limits of Development-As-Usual A.K.M. Fazlur Rahman [Khulna University] Md. Ahsanul Kabir [Khulna University] |
| 11:40 T603 | Kathmandu Valley's Urban Governance Crisis: Climate Change and Flood Risk Tej Karki [Kathmandu University] |
| 12:00 T614 [Virtual] | Beyond Industrial Circularity: Artisan Circularity as a Public Administration Framework for Sustainable Development and Inclusive Governance Tapan Sharma [Ministry of Textiles, Government of India] |
Track 3 III– Session 06 (S06) Ethical Governance, Integrity, and Public Trust
4 Nov 2026 | 11:00–12:30 | Swayambhu Hall | In person
Chair: Muneer Ahmed Shah [Shah Abdul Latif University]
Facilitator: Surya Prakash Baral [NASC]
| Time and code | Title |
|---|---|
| 11:00 T327 | Who Do Citizens Trust More? A Conjoint Experiment on Bureaucratic Recruitment in Pakistan Abiha Zahra [Information Technology University] Kohei Suzuki [Leiden University] Jan Meyer Sahling [University of Nottingham] |
| 11:20 T306 [Virtual] | Has the Right to Information Act, 2005 Strengthened Public Trust in India? Reassessing Democratic Accountability and Evolving Challenges of Transparency Activism Shailendra Kumar [Gaya College, India] Anshuman Ankit [Magadh University] Pankaj Kumar Mishra [Magadh University] |
| 11:40 T323 | Policy Implementation Challenges in Developing Countries: The Case of an AI-Driven Traffic Management System in Bangladesh Mumtaheenah Jashim [North South University] Hasan Muhammad Baniamin [Institution to be confirmed] |
| 12:00 T302 [Virtual] | Mimicry of Reform and the State of Anti-Corruption in Bangladesh Nurul Huda Sakib [Jahangirnagar University] |
Track 4 IV– Session 07 (S07) Citizen-Centric Governance and Service Delivery
4 Nov 2026 | 11:00–12:30 | Rara Hall | In person
Chair: Hindu Sanskriti Karki
Facilitator: Raju Pangeni [NASC]
| Time and code | Title |
|---|---|
| 11:00 T448 | Challenges and Way Forward of Universal Health Insurance in Bangladesh K M Kabirul Islam [South Asian Network for Public Administration] Md. Sakib Mahmud [Institution to be confirmed] |
| 11:20 T433 | Citizens' Perceptions of Governance Reform in Nepal: A Comparative Study of Pre-and Post-2015 Constitutional Governance in Kaski District Mohan Kumar Paudel [RECOFTC Nepal] Aayushma Pangeni [Institution to be confirmed] |
| 11:40 T403 | Performances of Standing Committees of Union Parishad (UP) in Bangladesh: A Descriptive Analysis Mohammed Mamun [University of Liberal Arts, Bangladesh] |
| 12:00 T439 | Beyond Technology: Reimagining Digital Public Infrastructure Through Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Inclusive Governance in India and Nepal Avinash Kumar Singh [Magadh University, India] Md. Ehtesham Khan [Magadh University |
Track 5 V– Session 08 (S08) Modernizing Public Administration for Democracy, Development and State Capacity
4 Nov 2026 | 11:00–12:30 | Prithvi Hall | In person
Chair: Binayak Krishna Thapa (Kathmandu University)
Facilitator: Sebika Thapa [NASC]
| Time and code | Title |
|---|---|
| 11:00 T514 | Administrative Power and Public Resistance: Social Movements, Governance, and State Transformation in Nepal Narendra Raj Paudel [Tribhuvan University] |
| 11:20 T513 | Narrative Governance in the Age of AI: Reimagining Public Trust Through Algorithmic Communication in South Asia K M Baharul Islam [Institute of Management Technology Hyderabad] Archan Mitra [Amity University, Mumbai |
| 11:40 T506 | Strengthening State Capacity in Post-Disaster Recovery: From Bottlenecks to Reform Through Legal Clinics and Disaster Management Framework Review in Sri Lanka D S C T R Dissanayake [Ministry of Public Administration, Sri Lanka] |
| 12:00 T546 | How Do Digital and Intelligent Technologies Shape Public Employees’ Felt Accountability? A Technology Enactment-Psychological Perception Perspective Jiusheng Tan [Xiangtan University] Yue Zhu [Xiangtan University] |
Track 5 V– Session 09 (S09) Modernizing Public Administration for Democracy, Development and State Capacity
4 Nov 2026 | 11:00–12:30 | Annapurna Hall | In person
Chair: Bishnu Raj Upreti [Nepal Center for Contemporary Research]
Facilitator: Smriti Prahan [NASC]
| Time and code | Title |
|---|---|
| 11:00 T510 | Andragogy in Public Policy Education: An Autoethnography of Building State Capacity Among Civil Servants Vishal Narain [Management Development Institute, India] |
| 11:20 T536 | Emotional Inclusion in the Workplace: Representation and Exclusion Experiences of Gender and Ethnic Minorities in Nepal's Civil Service Baburam Bhul [Office of the Auditor General, Kathmandu Nepal] |
| 11:40 T525 | Building Governance Capability at the Last Mile: Training Elected Urban Local Representatives for Citizen-Centric Service Delivery - Evidence from Maharashtra Vishal Dole [Savitribai Phule Pune University, India] Manjiri Dhawade [Savitribai Phule Pune University, India] |
| 12:00 T532 | Digital Governance Framework in Pakistan: A Study of Policy Analysis and Implementation Challenges Mahnoor Farooq [Quaid-i-Azam University] Aqsa Humayun [Institution to be confirmed] |
Track 5 V– Session 10 (S10) Modernizing Public Administration for Democracy, Development and State Capacity
4 Nov 2026 | 11:00–12:30 | Lumbini Hall | In person
Chair: Zulfiqar Haider Zaidi [University of Sindh]
Facilitator: Chandani Kayastha [NASC]
| Time and code | Title |
|---|---|
| 11:00 T517 | Enhancing Public Service Delivery Through Digital Transformation and MIL Sahishnu Poudyal [Kathmandu University] Nirmala Mani Adhikary [Institution to be confirmed] |
| 11:20 T523 | From Revolution to Reform? Bangladesh's Politicised Civil Bureaucracy After July 2024 Md Shafiul Islam [Rajshahi University |
| 11:40 T512 | Does Public Policy Challenge Caste? Examining Entrepreneurship Initiatives for Scheduled Caste Women in India Wajahat Mazahar Khan [O P Jindal Global University] |
| 12:00 T527 | Governing the Intersection: Institutional Challenges and Driver Compliance in Dhaka's AI Based Traffic Enforcement System Md. Lutful Nasif [Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University] |
Track 6 VI– Session 11 (S11) Climate Change, Sustainability, and Inclusive Governance
4 Nov 2026 | 11:00–12:30 | Pathivara Hall | In person
Chair: Ngamindra Dahal [NWCF]
Facilitator: Lila Nath Sapkota [NASC]
| Time and code | Title |
|---|---|
| 11:00 T611 | Drought-Induced Internal Displacement in Bangladesh: A Review of Public Policies and Administrative Response Sujan Kanti Dey [Asian Institute of Technology] Mokbul Morshed Ahmad [Asian Institute of Technology] |
| 11:20 T622 | The Institutional Determinants of Women's Health and Their Role in Inclusive Growth Salineeta Chaudhuri [CHRIST University] Shalini Singh [Institution to be confirmed] Vivek Shukla [Institution to be confirmed] |
| 11:40 T625 | Political Adaptation of Climate-Induced Internally Displaced Population in Bangladesh: A Stakeholder-Based Analysis Sodip Roy [Bangladesh Open University] |
| 12:00 T610 | Gender-Responsive Urban Climate Adaptation: Governance Pathways for Inclusive and Low Carbon Cities Ruth Shraboni Joydhor [GIZ, Bangladesh] |
Panel 1
4 Nov 2026 | 11:00–12:30 | Araniko Hall
Institutional Innovations for Inclusive Development: Collaborative Governance for Public Service Delivery in South Asia Chair: Md. Ehtesham Khan [Magadh University] Discussant: Kumari Shakhi [Magadh University] |
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a Catalyst for Good Governance: A Comparative Study of Bihar (India) and Nepal Avinash Kumar Singh & Mr. Avinash Kumar Sonu [Magadh University |
[Virtual] Corporate Partnerships for WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Governance: From Statutory Compliance to Public Value Creation under India’s Mandatory CSR Framework (2014–2024) Anshuman Ankit [Magadh University |
Ethical Street-Level Bureaucracy and Inclusive Public Service Delivery: A Study of Institutional Innovations for Last-Mile Governance in Bihar Kundan Kumar [Magadh University] Deepak Kumar [Magadh University] |
Beyond Self-Help Groups: Social Capital and Community Institutions for Inclusive Rural Development - Evidence from JEEViKA, Bihar Pankaj Kumar Mishra [Magadh University |
12:30-13:30 Lunch (Dining Area)
4 November | Delibarative Studio
| Time | Session and Venue | Peoples & Roles |
|---|---|---|
13:30-15:30
| Deliberative Studio A Rara Hall
| Lead Provocateur: Habib Zafarullah [University of New England] Facilitator: Bishal Acharya [Nepal Administrative Staff College] & Ritika Singh [GovLab] Provocateurs Sucheta Pyakurel [Tribhuvan University, Nepal] Rumki Basu [Center for Public Policy and Governance, India] Yaamina Salman [University of Punjab, Pakistan] |
| 13:30–15:30 | Deliberative Studio B
Prithivi Hall | Lead Provocateur: Neeti Aryal Khanal [Tribhuvan University] Facilitator: Pritha Paudyal [Nepal Administrative Staff College] & Pratistha Joshi [GovLab] Provocateurs Kashif Rathore [University of Punjab] Abdul Matin [Jadhavpur University, India] Ramesh Ramasamy [University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka]
|
| 13:30–15:30 | Deliberative Studio C Kasthamandap Hall | Lead Provocateur: Akhlaque Haque [University of Alabama at Birmingham] Facilitator: Shital Moktan Tamang [Nepal Administrative Staff College] & Soniya Timalsina [GovLab] Provocateurs: Sudhan Jha [National Planning Commission, Nepal] Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk [Universiti Sains Malaysia] Abiha Zahra [Information Technology University, Pakistan] |
| 15:30–16:00 | Tea Break: Dining Area | |
| 16:00–17:30 | Regional Reflection
Vrihaspati Hall | Chair: Gobinda Bahadur Karkee [Chief Secretary, GoN] Facilitator: Pratibha Dhungana [Nepal Administrative Staff College] Panelist Mustafa Hyder [University of Karachi] Roshanie Dissanayake [Ministry of Science and Technology, Sri Lanka] Durga P Chhetri [Sikkim University] Md Mizanur Rahman [South Asian Network for Public Administration] |
| 17:30-19:30 | Reception Dinner NASC Ground | |