MUMBAI: The debut edition of Live Times XChange, a flagship forum from India’s first global multicast news hub Live Times, landed in Lucknow with the energy of a start-up and the weight of a summit. With top ministers, rival netas, and sharp-shooting bureaucrats in attendance, the conclave turned into a masterclass on how India’s rise begins at the state level.

At the centre of it all was Uttar Pradesh, positioned as India’s breakout growth story and a live case study on how good governance, strong policy, and people-first programmes can turn potential into performance.
"This is not just the land of possibilities anymore. UP is now a model of success,” thundered chief minister Yogi Adityanath, outlining his vision to make the state a $1 trillion economy by 2029. With Rs 40 lakh crore in investment proposals, expressways zipping across districts, and the Mahakumbh pulling in 66 crore visitors, UP, he said, is no longer waiting its turn — it's leading the charge.

Former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, playing both the critic and the statesman, praised the event for backing “constructive journalism” and urged unity in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. He also took a dig at delayed projects and reminded the audience of metro lines and roadways launched during his tenure.

Adding further heft were deputy chief ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, alongside Baby Rani Maurya (women’s welfare), Asim Arun (social justice), and Ajay Rai, president of the UP congress. Baby Rani Maurya, with 95 lakh SHGs under her belt, said women were no longer waiting for empowerment — they were earning it.

Live Times founder Dilip Kumar Singh called the event a “defining moment for India's future”, noting that “when states thrive, the nation soars”. He positioned XChange as a bridge between policymakers and citizens, built on the bedrock of facts, not frills.

The conclave didn’t just talk policy — it sparked purpose. With sessions covering caste inclusion, women’s safety, local industry and jobs, XChange set the tone for what public discourse should sound like in a new Bharat: tough, topical, and totally democratic.

Next stop? More states, more voices, and more action. Because when growth is a team sport, XChange is where the players meet.