14th Indian Social Work Conference 2026 Concludes at Assam Don Bosco University
The three-day 14th Indian Social Work Conference 2026 concluded at Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU), Tapesia Campus, Guwahati, on Wednesday, with a call to shift the focus of social work from welfare to holistic wellbeing.
Organised from November 2 to 4 in collaboration with the National Association of Professional Social Workers in India (NAPSWI), the conference was held under the theme “From Welfare to Wellbeing: Reimagining Social Work Practice for Viksit Bharat @2047.”
The national-level conference brought together academicians, researchers, social work professionals, policymakers and students from across the country to discuss emerging challenges and opportunities in social work education, research and practice.
The conference recorded 532 registrations and featured 335 paper presenters, including 250 offline and 85 online participants.
The inaugural session was graced by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya. A major highlight was the presentation of Lifetime Achievement Awards to eminent social work professionals. The conference also witnessed the release of the Abstract Book, Souvenir and a set of standards for the ethical use of technology in social work education and practice in India.
The academic sessions covered a wide range of issues, including women’s empowerment, child rights, mental health, inclusive education, tribal communities, climate resilience, human rights and the growing role of artificial intelligence in social work.
The deliberations emphasised the importance of strengthening the connection between academic research and grassroots practice, while promoting social justice, human dignity, inclusion and sustainable community development.
The conference concluded with a collective commitment to reimagine social work as a more inclusive and community-oriented profession, contributing towards the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
