COVID-19 pandemic is currently changing our understanding of the world around us. It has challenged many of our ideologies. Experts argue that this pandemic is an inevitable result of globalization and in turn, has seriously threatened the world’s globalization order. At this juncture, Department of Economics and Post Graduate Department of Commerce jointly organised a one day National Webinar on COVID 19: A Global Crisis or a Crisis of Globalization on 26th June 2020 on Google Meet. Mr. Benston John, Assistant Professor at St Stephen’s College, Delhi was the chief guest to speak on the issue. Also, he is a PhD student at Delhi School of Economics, and has worked as a research associate at Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. Around 185 academicians and research scholars attended the webinar with deep interest.

The webinar started at 10.30 a.m. with Prof. Kala N, Department of Economics extending a very warm welcome to the participants. Dr.Cini Kurian, the principal of the college, inaugurated the webinar. The resource person opined that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on free trade is yet to be researched and understood. As per The World Trade Organization (WTO) estimate, the global trade could dip as much as 32%, indicating the kind of dislocation they expect in large economies. He also put forward his doubt regarding the chance of China to be emerged as the leader in post COVID globalised world. We contend that the pandemic’s adverse effects on globalization are temporary, and that it would provoke more international cooperation among different nations in the long run. At the end of the presentation, there was a very interactive session in which the participants raised queries and questions related to the topic. The session came to a glorious end with Dr. Leena Varghese from the Department of Commerce proposing the vote of thanks. The webinar was indeed a rewarding experience to all the inquisitive members of the session.