**Executive Summary**
The 28th Annual International Conference of the Society of Operations Management (SOM) was held at the Indian Institute of Management Nagpur from December 19-21, 2025. The conference focused on the role of AI in research and Indian Railways. The key takeaway was that AI should be used as an enabler, not a replacement for human capabilities, especially regarding learning, judgment, ethics, and accountability.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Conference Overview:**
* The conference brought together academicians, industry leaders, and policymakers.
* It examined the responsible integration of AI into knowledge creation and public systems.
* **Directors' Panel Discussion:**
* The Directors' Panel highlighted the impact of AI on research and academic publications.
* Panelists agreed that AI can speed up tasks like literature searches and structuring content.
* They emphasized that AI cannot replace the core process of learning and thinking.
* Human accountability in research remains irreplaceable.
* **Indian Railways Panel Discussion:**
* This panel reinforced the message on AI's role in public systems.
* AI can support crew management, reservation systems, and operational planning.
* It will not replace loco pilots in the foreseeable future.
* **Conference Conclusion:**
* AI must strengthen human capabilities in research and essential public services like railways.
* People must remain at the center of decision-making.
**Impact Analysis**
**Researchers**
* **Impact:** Reliance on AI could affect judgment abilities. AI may influence publications more than the research itself.
* **Action Required:** Uphold academic honesty and ethics. Use AI as a powerful assistant rather than a substitute.
**Indian Railways (Vinayak Garg, Dr. Gyanesh Tripathi, and Rahul Pachori)**
* **Impact:** AI can support certain areas but will not replace loco pilots.
* **Action Required:** Integrate AI in areas like crew management, reservation systems, and operational planning.
**Industry**
* **Impact:** Industry stands to gain the most from AI.
* **Action Required:** Use AI as a powerful assistant.
**Society of Operations Management (SOM) and ONGC**
* **Impact:** Contributed to the conference through various speakers.
* **Action Required:** Continued collaboration to advocate for the responsible integration of AI.
Key Entities Referenced
Society of Operations Management (SOM): Organization that held the 28th Annual International Conference
Indian Institute of Management Nagpur: Location of the conference
Ministry of Education: Relevant ministry, as its representative (Rahul Pachori) participated in a panel on Indian Railways.
Indian Railways: Key focus of the conference regarding the role of AI.
Nagpur: City where the conference was held.
Ministry of Education
AI as an Enabler, Not a Replacement: SOM
Conference at IIM Nagpur Highlights AI Role in
Research and Railways
प्रव तथ: 23 DEC 2025 3:29PM by PIB Mumbai
Nagpur, 23 December 2025
Artificial Intelligence can significantly improve efficiency and decision-making, but it cannot
replace human learning, judgment, ethics, or accountability—this clear and common message
emerged from key discussions on research and Indian Railways at the 28th Annual International
Conference of the Society of Operations Management (SOM), held at Indian Institute of
Management Nagpur between December 19 and 21.
The conference brought together senior academicians, industry leaders, and policymakers to
examine how AI should be responsibly integrated into both knowledge creation and public
systems.
The Directors’ Panel was the central highlight of the conference. Moderated by Dr. Bhimaraya
Metri, Director, IIM Nagpur, the panel discussed the impact of AI on research and academic
publications. Prof. Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Director, IIM Mumbai, joined the session virtually, while
Dr. Varun Nagaraj, Dean, SPJIMR Mumbai; Prof. N. Ravichandran, former Director, IIM Indore;
and Prof. T. R. Parasuraman, former President and Whole-time Director, Toyota Industries,
participated in person.
Panelists agreed that AI is a useful tool for speeding up tasks such as literature searches,
references, and structuring content, but the core process of learning and thinking cannot be
bypassed. Dr. Varun Nagaraj observed that research begins with learning and warned thatoverdependence on AI could affect judgment abilities, especially among young researchers. Prof.
Manoj Kumar Tiwari stressed that while AI can enhance speed and efficiency, human
accountability in research remains irreplaceable.
Prof. N. Ravichandran highlighted the importance of deep reading, noting that not everything
published qualifies as research and that immersive reading leads to deeper understanding. Prof.
T. R. Parasuraman pointed out that AI may influence publications more than research itself,
emphasizing the need to uphold academic honesty and ethics. He also noted that industry
stands to gain the most from AI and encouraged researchers to use it as a powerful assistant
rather than a substitute.
The formal inauguration of the conference was held earlier on Saturday. Prof. Bhimaraya Metri,
Prof. Rahul Marathe, President of the Society of Operations Management, and Dr Harsh Nupur
Joshi, Chief Operating Officer, ONGC Green, addressed the gathering. Prof. Alok Kumar Singh,
Dean – Executive Education Programmes, delivered the introductory remarks, while Prof. Nikunj
Kumar Jain, Chairperson, Executive MBA in Energy Management, proposed the vote of thanks.
Arunangshu Sarkar, Director (Strategy & Corporate Affairs), ONGC Ltd shared his message
through a video address.
A separate panel on Indian Railways reinforced a similar message on AI’s role in public systems.
Moderated by Prof. Ajinkya Tanksale, the discussion featured Vinayak Garg, Divisional Railway
Manager, Central Railway; Dr. Gyanesh Tripathi, General Manager (Industrial Computing), CRIS;
and Rahul Pachori, Director, Ministry of Education, Government of India.
Speakers clarified that AI can support areas such as crew management, reservation systems,
and operational planning, but it will not replace loco pilots in the foreseeable future.
With technical sessions, paper presentations, and workshops continuing on Sunday, the
conference concluded with a strong consensus: AI must be used to strengthen human
capabilities—both in research and in essential public services like railways—while keeping people
firmly at the centre of decision-making.
* * *
PIB Nagpur | Saurabh Khekde/Darshana Rane
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