Vol 4, Issue 2, 2024

COMMUNIQUÉ

Welcome to the latest issue of Communique! We inducted the new cohort of our flagship programme-the Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy (AMPPP) in the third quarter of this year. Read on to learn about our key accomplishments, initiatives, collaborations, events, and more.

Education

Inauguration of the Co’2025 Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy

Bharti Institute of Public Policy welcomed the ninth cohort of its flagship Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy (AMPPP) and hosted the inaugural session for the batch at the Indian School of Business, Mohali campus.

The new cohort consists of 52 participants, including 30 % women. With diverse educational backgrounds, the cohort boasts of 16% IAS, 7% IPS, 20% Indian Revenue Service, 11% Indian Railway Service, 2% Punjab state civil services, and 11% development sector participants. The cohort also consists of 24 % corporate sector participants besides others from PSUs, business houses, politics, etc. The average work experience of the cohort is about 17 + years.

Addressing the gathering, Professor Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor & Executive Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy (BIPP), spoke about the evolving nature of learning and personal growth within educational environments, emphasising the need for continuous development and adaptation.

Professor Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor (Research) & Research Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy (BIPP), delivered the keynote address.

The inaugural event also included a special session by Manjari Jaruhar, IPS (Retd.), former Special Director General, CISF, and Bihar’s first woman IPS officer on ‘Transforming Challenges into Opportunities in the Indian Police Service: My Personal Journey’.

Steven A Block, Professor of International Economics; Agriculture, Food and Environment, Friedman; Economics, Arts and Sciences, The Fletcher School, Tufts University, delivered a talk on ‘Why can't three billion people afford a healthy diet?’, highlighting the deepening crisis at the intersection of climate change and food security.

The first residency of the Cohort 2024-25, Batch 9, was held from 9th August- 18th August 2024 at ISB’s Mohali campus. The residency had the following courses and faculty:

Course	Faculty Name
Evidence in Public Policy	Prof. Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor & Executive Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy (BIPP) ISB
Economics for Public Policy	Anup K Pujari, former IAS and visiting faculty, Indian School of Business
Policy Design and Implementation	Amarjeet Sinha, Former Secretary, Department of Rural Development, Govt of India; and Member, Public Enterprises Selection Board, India
Theory and Practice of Negotiations	Prof. Saumya Sindhwani, Assistant Professor, Organisational Behaviour (Practice) & Associate Dean–Advanced Management Programmes (RCI-AMP’s), ISB
Leadership for Policy Professionals	Rajeshwar Upadhyaya, Director, Par Excellence Leadership Solutions Pvt. Ltd., and visiting faculty, Indian School of Business
Reading and Writing Analytically	Prof. Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor (Research) & Research Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy (BIPP), ISB

Three expert guest sessions and two workshops were also conducted during the residency by:

Steven Block, Professor, International Economics, Agriculture, Food and Environment; Friedman Economics, Arts and Sciences, The Fletcher School, Tufts University, held a session on ‘Food Price and Electoral Cycles’.
Tejveer Singh, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Local Government, Industries and Commerce, and Information Technology, Government of Punjab, held a session on ‘Public Policy - from praxis to theory’.
Kalpana Dube, IRAS (R), Former Chief of Faculty Finance, National Academy of Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways, held a special session on ‘Infrastructure Financing- Beyond the Numbers’.
Vivek Atray, former IAS, motivational speaker, author, mentor, advisor, and columnist held a workshop on ‘Science of Happiness: Insights for Leaders’.
Radhakrishnan Pillai, Director, Chanakya International Institute of Leadership Studies, University of Mumbai, held a workshop on ‘Chanakya's Wisdom: Mastering Leadership and Stress Management’.

As the residency coincided with the Independence Day, a cultural night followed by a gala dinner was organised on the eve of the Independence Day to celebrate the uniqueness in India’s diversity. Consequently, the participants of the cohort presented a talent show showcasing India’s rich cultural heritage.

Updates on State Government Engagements

Government of Himachal Pradesh

To formalise the partnership Bharti Institute of Public Policy and the district administration of Lahaul & Spiti, Government of Himachal Pradesh, two MoUs were signed to expand the forest economy. The collaboration aims to create models around the forest economy, seasonal forest products (SFPs), and the pastoral grazing economy in Lahaul by securing community tenure for traditional grazing rights. In Spiti, the focus will be on economic models for Sea Buckthorn and other SFPs. The initiative promotes sustainable practices, capacity-building workshops, and women-led enterprises, utilising digital technology to scale up the ongoing efforts.

Government of Jharkhand

Under the Initiative on the Forest Economy (IoFE), a pilot aggregated sale of Sal seeds across villages in Gumla and Ranchi districts was held, empowering Gram Sabhas with CFR rights in resource management. This collaborative effort, involving government officials, civil society, industry buyers, and forest communities, resulted in a truckload of 11 tonnes sold by three women-led community enterprises to AAK. The initiative, supported by JSLPS, ICFG, and PRADAN, leveraged economies of scale by mobilising primary collectors, providing valuable revenue diversification experience for the community enterprises. Despite challenges such as heavy rainfall, low Sal seed production, and concurrent Kharif season crop preparation, the sale demonstrated the effectiveness of formal industry-community partnerships in securing fair prices and overcoming traditional market pressures.

Government of Meghalaya

Under the Meghalaya Legislative Research Support Fellowship, fellows developed comprehensive Constituency Development Plans (CDPs) focused on healthcare, education, socio-economic aspects, and agriculture. These plans aim to guide fellows in analysing local diversities and planning activities for their allotted constituencies. A meeting was held with Mylliem Legislator Ronnie V. Lyngdoh to discuss the CDP's potential for his constituency. Additionally, fellows along with Prof, Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor (Research) & Research Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy (BIPP), and Saubhagya Samal, Head of PMU, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, visited Mawphlang's Sacred Groves to learn about traditional governance practices.

Online Lecture Series: To further enhance the learning of MLRF fellows, a monthly lecture series commenced with the first lecture on the ‘Last Mile Connectivity’ conducted by Amarjeet Sinha, IAS (Retd.). The second lecture in the series was conducted by Dr. K.P Singh, IPS(Retd.) on the new penal law, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Participation in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Autumn Session: The MLRF fellows held meetings with their respective allotted legislators before the commencement of the Autumn Session. The MLRF fellows lend assistance in preparing questions for the assembly session for the discussion hour. Data research was conducted related to various sectors relevant to the starred Questions posed to ministers.

The MLRF fellows also attended the CM Connect programme in Bhoirymbong to understand the concerns of residents and the role of government in addressing them.
Dairy Farming and Blacksmithing Projects with PGP students: As part of the Constituency Development Plan for Mylliem constituency, a proposal was shared between the ISB team and the MLRF Fellows regarding studies focussing on dairy farming and blacksmithing in the constituency, to be conducted in collaboration with ISB’s PGP students. Consequently, the fellows conducted preliminary research on ground using primary data sources to gain insights and findings about dairy farming and blacksmithing practices in Meghalaya. Two teams visited Pomkañiew village to meet the Blacksmith Cooperative Society and discuss the study on blacksmiths to be conducted in their village.

Workshop on Research Methodology at Meghalaya Administrative Training Institute (MATI): A few fellows attended a workshop conducted by Dr. Roma Mitra Debnath, Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Public Administration who addressed key topics in public policy research. Participants presented their policy research proposals, demonstrating their understanding of the concepts covered and their ability to develop evidence-based solutions for Meghalaya's policy challenges.

Government of Odisha

Under the Initiative on the Forest Economy (IoFE), a series of traditional boundary mapping training sessions was conducted in partnership with Vasundhara. The first, held in Paralakhemundi (Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada), focused on GPS data collection using the ODK app, with practical exercises in Kharada village. The second, held in Kuchinda (Sambalpur, Deogarh), included similar training while the third, in Bhadrak (Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur), emphasised GPS data collection for CFR boundary mapping. All sessions equipped participants with the skills to conduct data collection independently.

UPDATES ON EXISTING PROJECTS

India Data Portal

The India Data Portal is now part of the library resources across 50 top-tier institutions in the country, including the Indian School of Business (ISB), 15 IIMs, XLRI, 9 IITs & NITs, BITS, JNU, IGIDR, the Madras School of Economics, and other leading universities.
The India Data Portal Student Ambassador Programme successfully concluded with five winners selected from Cohort 1 (GIM interns) and Cohort 2 (IIT Kanpur interns). These ambassadors contributed to the nationwide outreach by IDP.

Name of institutions where India Data Portal is a part of e-library

IIM Bangalore	IIM Lucknow	IIM Bodhgaya	IIM Sirmaur
IIM Ahmedabad	IIM Udaipur	IIM Amritsar	IIM Nagpur
IIM Kozhikode	IIM Ranchi	IIM Vizag	IIM Shillong
IIM Calcutta	IIM Indore	IIM Raipur	IIFT
Indian School of Business (ISB)	XLRI	BITS Pilani	BITS Hyderabad
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)	Madras School of Economics (MSE)	Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS)	BITS Goa
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham	IGIDR	Mumbai University	TERI School of Advanced Studies
IIT Hyderabad	NIT Calicut	University of Hyderabad	University of Himachal Pradesh
IIT Tirupati	NIT Meghalaya	Guru Nanak Dev University	Shiv Nadar University
IIT Mandi	NIT Silchar	Karnataka University	Maulana Azad National Urdu University
IIT Bhubaneswar	NIT Mizoram	Goa Institute of Management	University of Burdwan
IIT Goa	Visva Bharati	TAPMI, Manipal University	Dibrugarh University

Workshops and Info Sessions: Exclusive workshops were conducted for Mumbai University, University of Hyderabad, IGIDR, TISS, and Visva Bharati.
User Base: Within six months of outreach efforts and SEO optimisation, the India Data Portal has become one of the top searchable engines with 350% more user base than the previous version of IDP. The total user base now stands at 45,132 as of September 2024 with event count of 4,37,434.

Initiative on the Forest Economy (IoFE)

IoFE’s recent partnership with the District Administration of Gadchiroli marks a crucial advancement in sustainable forest management through the creation of an SFP (Seasonal Forest Products) inventory. Utilising digital and geospatial tools like nCount, the initiative aims to map the variety, distribution, and potential yield of forest products such as medicinal plants, resins, honey, and bamboo. This data will help sustain community rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006, fostering local capacity for resource management and equitable benefit distribution.
A three-day training on nCount and ODK Collect was held in Gadchiroli with participants from Zilla Parishad, District Transformation Committee, Ekal Centre, Sahayogi Mitra, Maharashtra Forest Department, and ISB. The training covered forest resource and boundary mapping using ODK Collect. A total of 260 forest resource and 44 boundary mapping forms were submitted. The training concluded with discussions on boundary mapping challenges and data privacy, with data collection starting in Dhanora block.

The CFR kit delivery pilot in Jharkhand is progressing well, with 273 kits packed and dispatched to eight blocks. Each kit contains essential documents such as maps, RoRs, claim formats, forms B and C, registers, and sahayika, along with helpline and helpdesk details. Orientation sessions were held for Birbandhus in Ghatshila and Dumaria blocks, and delivery boys in Simdega, covering a total of 149 villages. Deliveries started in four blocks, including market days in Bishunpur. Key tasks include kit delivery, JharFRA registration, sharing video tutorials, and adding contacts to WhatsApp groups. Two tracking tools—Sampark Soochi and Karya Soochi—are in place to monitor delivery progress and contact attempts. For East Singhbhum, the team is using a hybrid model with delivery boys, vehicles, and market-day strategies, supported by paid volunteers.
The first executive committee meeting of Kalimela GSPC (Green Shakti Producer Company) was held at Vichar Kendra, Jakelkundi, with 17 presidents, 15 secretaries from producer groups, and key Gramsabha members. The IoFE team members facilitated the introduction session and outlined the meeting's objectives, focusing on the differences between individual and collective sales, the role of producer groups and GSPC, and the necessary documents for registration. The team emphasised the significance of CFR, the role of women in Gramsabha, NTFP sales, and the GSPC structure.

Enabling Nutrition and Agriculture Convergence through Technical Support (ENACTS)

Partnership with PRADAN: A joint field visit of ENACTS team with PRADAN to Rayagada was conducted to explore potential areas for agri-nutrition convergence. The aim is to develop interventions together that can boost the production and distribution of Nutrient-Dense Foods (NDFs).
The team held multiple consultations with key state-level departments, including Women & Child Development (W&CD), SC/ST Development, and School & Mass Education (S&ME). Meetings were held with the officials in Keonjhar to establish a District-Level Convergence Committee. This committee will coordinate with line officials across departments for the implementation of the intervention in the pilot area. It will also be helpful in resolving various operational and administrative bottlenecks with directives to field officials.

INFUSION (Indian Food Systems for Improved Nutrition – Policy Support Research Facility for advancing India’s agriculture-nutrition convergence agenda)

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the University of Sheffield and JEEViKA to establish a long-term collaboration aimed at improving nutrition and livelihood outcomes for low-income populations in Bihar.
As part of the ongoing, Didi Haat initiative—a marketplace initiative led by Self-Help Group (SHG) women, designed to make nutrient-dense foods more accessible and affordable while promoting women's economic empowerment, the team of volunteers is conducting field visits to government and private haats in Bihar. As part of this exercise, two workshops were held in Patna and Hyderabad with SHG leaders and JEEViKA functionaries. A third co-design workshop was held in Bodh Gaya to refine intervention models besides financial and operational needs for Didi Haats.
Data collection activities focused on monitoring NDF availability, hygiene, and women's safety in local markets are in progress. For the monsoon season, surveys were conducted in Samastipur and Bhojpur districts.
Household Data Collection: Data collection began in August to observe dietary patterns in households in Samastipur and Bhojpur. This phase involved a team visit from LSHTM and NIN to monitor the household survey.

Platform for Development Research and Communications

Under this initiative, the authors have submitted final chapters of all the six books following a review process to incorporate the feedback and suggestions received from peers. The editors conducted a final review of the papers. The chapters under all the six volumes— Climate Action and Justice; Improving Learning Outcomes in Schools; Healthcare for All; Improved Nutritional Outcomes; Institutional Challenges in Social Development; and Livelihood Diversification and Skills, are currently undergoing an extensive copy-editing process.

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Surya K, Chief Data Scientist, IDP, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Surya Kandukuri, Chief Data Scientist, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business presented the India Data Portal at the monthly meet of CKAN— one of the world's leading open source data management systems. The session was attended by data scientists and developers from around the globe.
Dr Aarushi Jain, Edward S Mason Fellow, Harvard University and Policy Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business participated in the United Nations Summit of the Future2024 Action Days in New York. During the Summit, Dr. Jain participated in a range of discussions focussing on addressing global challenges through innovative, and inclusive approaches.

Professor Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor (Research) & Research Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy was invited for a talk at a webinar on “Exploring Solutions: A Comprehensive Session on Water Conservation”.

Prof. Anjal Prakash was invited to moderate a session at the Climate 11 Summit Organised in Leh, to raise awareness about climate change. It was a first-of-its-kind 'sports, sustainability and climate summit' that showcased the impact of climate change on the lives of people living in high altitude areas as well as the impact on sports and sports players.
Prof. Anjal Prakash was invited by the Department of Economic Studies and Planning, School of Business Studies, Central University of Karnataka, in Kalaburagi, to deliver a valedictory address at a two-day national seminar on "Vikasit Bharat@2047: Way towards Self-reliance." Prof Prakash spoke on reviving water bodies to rejuvenate rivers of India. The conference was organised in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Ministry of Education, New Delhi.
Prof Anjal Prakash moderated a technical session on “Bold Targets and Breakthroughs for Climate Resilience” at the Global Bio-India Conference in New Delhi.

Research Publication & Blogs

Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor (Research) & Research Director, and Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor & Executive Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy (BIPP), co-authored a research paper titled, “Navigating India's Groundwater Crisis: Legal and Institutional Perspectives on Regulation and Conservation”, published in the Official Journal of the World Water Council’s Water Policy.
Nimisha Jain, Research Manager, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, co-authored a research paper on 'An Inter-district Analysis of Infrastructural Disparities in Karnataka ' published in the Indian Journal of Industrial Relations.
Gursharan Singh Dhanjal, Principal Data Scientist, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, co-authored a research article titled, 'Folate and Vitamin B12 Status in Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Haryana, India: Estimating Population‐Based Prevalence for Neural Tube Defects,' published in Wiley.
As part of its Public Policy Paper series, Bharti Institute published two papers. The policy paper titled 'Behavioural Insights in Tax Administration' by Shibanka Das Biswas, an AMPPP alumni, discusses the complexity of human nature, and how our understanding of tax-compliance behaviour has evolved. The second paper under the series titled, 'A Critical Review of the Freight Pricing Mechanism of Indian Railway' by Anshoo Pandey, an AMPPP alumni, delves into the freight pricing system of the Indian Railways.
Bharti Institute has published over 20 blogs contributed by researchers, public policy practitioners, alumni, and academicians on various policy matters on its website.

Outreach Activities

Policy Talks, an initiative of ISB Studios in association with the Bharti Institute, is a unique videocast series, aimed at enabling viewers to gain perspective on the nuances of policymaking in India. After receiving positive response for the first two seasons, seven episodes of Season 3 were launched.

Policy Talks S3E6: features Vimala R, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Maharashtra State Khadi and Village Industries Board in conversation with Dr. Aarushi Jain, Policy Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy. Vimala R discusses her career trajectory as an IAS officer, her PhD research on deserted women and shares potential policy solutions to help the broader community, specifically deserted women.

Policy Talks S3E7: features Sampath Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner, Government of Meghalaya in conversation with Dr. Aarushi Jain, Policy Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy. Kumar shares his experience as a public administrator, shedding light on the complexities of governing India's remote regions, specifically the state of Meghalaya.

Policy Talks S3E8: features Dr Vandana Prasad, Founding Secretary & Technical Advisor, Public Health Resource Society in conversation with Professor Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor & Executive Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy. Dr. Prasad and Prof. Chhatre discuss whether fortification of food can help fight malnutrition. They emphasise the need for equitable policies that ensure everyone, especially those in greatest need, can access nutritious food.

Policy Talks S3E9: features Richard Mahapatra, Managing Editor, Down to Earth Magazine in conversation with Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor (Research) & Research Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy. Prof. Prakash and Mahapatra engage in a thought-provoking conversation around climate crisis, understanding the current state of affairs, and how journalists can contribute to mitigating climate risks beyond headlines.

Policy Talks S3E10: features Ganesh Neelam, Executive Director, CInI - Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives, Tata Trusts in conversation with Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor (Research) & Research Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy. Neelam discusses the conceptualisation and impact of the Lakhpati Kisan Programme since it started operations in 2015.

Policy Talks S3E11: features Dr. Pushpinder Singh Puniha, Financial Advisor to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in conversation with Dr. Aarushi Jain, Policy Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy. In this free-flowing conversation, Dr. Puniha reminisces about his professional journey, beginning with the Income Tax department as an IRS officer.

Policy Talks S3E12: features Dr. Marcella D'Souza, Director, Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR), Centre for Resilience Studies (W-CReS) in conversation with Anjal Prakash Clinical Associate Professor (Research) & Research Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy. Dr. D'Souza and Prof. Prakash engage in a thought-provoking conversation around Dr. D'Souza's career trajectory, the history of WOTR, and her vision for the future of public health.

• Four online sessions were organised for the AMPPPP Cohort 2024-2025. These included:
'Evolution of Citizen Advocacy for Public Health and Transparency and Accountability in Governance Over the Last Decade' by five-time Member of Parliament Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda; “'From a Physical Past to a Digital Future: The Forces Shaping the Digital Planet”, by Ravi Shankar Chaturvedi, Managing Director and Co-investigator, Digital Planet - an interdisciplinary research platform at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University; “Agniveer Policy - Essentials and Future Metrics”, by Anurag Awasthi, Vice-President, India Electronics and Semiconductor Association; “Translating AMPPP Learnings into Everyday Work”, by Neetu K., Leading Communication IKEA Supply Area Supply Area South Asia.

TEAM IN NEWS

Dr. Aarushi Jain, Edward S Mason Fellow, Harvard University and Policy Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, published an OpEd titled, ‘Future Action Days: Reflections from United Nations Summit on deploying digital tech for achieving SDG goals’, reflecting on the United Nations Summit of the Future Action Days. Read in The Economic Times.

Prof. Anjal Prakash moderated a session at the Climate 11 Summit Organised in Leh to raise awareness about climate change. Read in TOI.

Prof. Anjal Prakash participated in a TV news panel sharing insights on Mumbai's flood-like situation. Watch on MirrorNow.

Prof. Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor (Research) and Ritwick George, Research Assistant, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, published an article titled 'Climate Equity: Prioritising Vulnerable Regions for Resilience and Adaptation', to explore the link between climate vulnerability and poverty in India. Read in The Quint.

Prof. Anjal Prakash published an OpEd titled, 'The Annual Deluge: Understanding Mumbai's Chronic Flooding Problem', exploring multifaceted reasons behind Mumbai's flooding and proposes solutions for a sustainable future. Read in The Quint.

Prof. Anjal Prakash published an OpEd titled ‘Budget 2024 Has a Green Blueprint for Flood Resilience and Climate Action’, highlighting the introduction of a taxonomy for climate finance. Read in The Quint.

Prof. On the occasion of World Population Day, Nimisha Jain, Research Manager, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, participated in a discussion on the impact of India's growing population on the economy. Watch the discussion on Zee News-PHH.

About Bharti Institute of Public Policy

The Bharti Institute of Public Policy is an integral part of the Indian School of Business. Functioning as an independent think-tank, the institute engages with policy makers by providing them with critical, evidence-based analysis of public policy rooted in data. The institute works on policy challenges across diverse domains, the main ones being Agriculture and Food, Environment, Education, Financial Policy, Governance and Digital identity.

Call for Working Papers & Research Blogs

It is for the relentless dedication of our amazing team that Bharti Institute keeps on scaling new heights and flourishing even when times get pandemically tough. We thank our researchers, associates, managers, writers, and coordinators for their contribution and noteworthy effort to Bharti Institute’s innovative programmes, change oriented collaborations, and dynamic pursuits. Miles to go, together!