CM Fadnavis headlines IPEC 2026 valedictory in Nagpur
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis headlined the valedictory of the 9th International Principals' Educational Conference 2026 in Nagpur on 24 October, joining MoS Dr. Pankaj Bhoyar, actor-MP Dr. Nitish Bharadwaj, IIM Nagpur Director Dr. Bhimaraya Metri, and IPEC Convener Dr. Mrunalini Dasture at the closing ceremony.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis attended the valedictory function of the 9th IPEC 2026 in Nagpur on 24 October 2026 .
Nitish Bharadwaj (former MP and actor), and IIM Nagpur Director Dr.
Bhimaraya Metri were among the dignitaries present.
The conference was convened by Dr.
Mrunalini Dasture and targeted school principals and education administrators.
Nagpur , Maharashtra's winter capital, hosted the event, consistent with the city's role as a state hub for academic outreach.
The IPEC platform aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 goals of international exposure and stronger school leadership.
School leadership took centre stage in Nagpur on Saturday, 24 October 2026, as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis graced the valedictory function of the 9th International Principals' Educational Conference (IPEC) 2026 — a gathering designed to sharpen the thinking of school heads from across the country and beyond.
The Chief Minister's Office of Maharashtra confirmed the CM's attendance at the closing ceremony, held at 12:35 pm in Nagpur. Alongside CM Fadnavis, the dais brought together a notable cross-section of education, policy, and public life: Minister of State Dr. Pankaj Bhoyar, former MP and veteran actor Dr. Nitish Bharadwaj — widely remembered for his iconic portrayal of Krishna in the Mahabharat television series — IPEC Convener Dr. Mrunalini Dasture, IIM Nagpur Director Dr. Bhimaraya Metri, and The South Public School Director Deaven Dasture.
Why Nagpur, and why now
Nagpur, Maharashtra's winter capital, has a well-established role as the state's hub for administrative and academic outreach. Hosting the IPEC valedictory here is consistent with that pattern — and with the state government's broader signal that school quality is a governance priority, not a peripheral concern.
The conference aligns with the spirit of the National Education Policy 2020, which explicitly pushes for international exposure, stronger school leadership pipelines, and the adoption of global best practices in pedagogy. By putting the Chief Minister in the chair for the closing session, Maharashtra plants its flag firmly on the side of that agenda.
The IPEC platform and its principal audience
The IPEC — now in its ninth edition — is convened by Dr. Mrunalini Dasture and draws school principals and education administrators looking for frameworks they can carry back into classrooms and staff rooms. The presence of IIM Nagpur Director Dr. Bhimaraya Metri adds a management-science dimension: the idea that running a school well is, in part, an institutional leadership challenge, not merely a pedagogical one.
Dr. Nitish Bharadwaj's inclusion as a former parliamentarian and cultural figure reflects the conference's broader ambition — connecting school leaders to public discourse well beyond curriculum circulars.
What principals will be watching for next
The real test of any such conference is what follows the valedictory. Whether Maharashtra translates the IPEC 2026 conversations into a structured principal-training programme or state-level policy adoption will be the metric that school administrators track in the months ahead.
Point of View
Who faces ongoing scrutiny over Maharashtra's public school infrastructure, the IPEC appearance is a soft-power investment in the NEP 2020 narrative. The inclusion of an IIM director alongside school leaders signals a convergence of management thinking and classroom practice that is increasingly fashionable in state education policy. Whether this translates into funded principal-training programmes, or remains a ceremonial signal, will determine its real policy weight.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did CM Devendra Fadnavis attend IPEC 2026?
CM Fadnavis was the chief guest at the valedictory function of the 9th IPEC 2026 on 24 October in Nagpur, signalling the Maharashtra government's emphasis on school leadership quality and international education best practices.
Who is Dr. Nitish Bharadwaj and why was he at the conference?
Dr. Nitish Bharadwaj is a former BJP Member of Parliament and actor best known for portraying Krishna in the Mahabharat television series. He attended the IPEC 2026 valedictory as one of the distinguished guests.
What is IIM Nagpur's connection to IPEC 2026?
IIM Nagpur Director Dr. Bhimaraya Metri was present at the valedictory, reflecting the conference's interest in applying institutional leadership and management thinking to school administration.
What is the National Education Policy 2020's relevance to IPEC?
NEP 2020 promotes international exposure and stronger school leadership pipelines, goals that align closely with IPEC's mission of equipping principals with global best practices in pedagogy and management.
