Vol.5, Issue 2, 2025

COMMUNIQUÉ

Welcome to the latest issue of Communique. The third quarter was eventful, productive and impactful in more ways than one. Read on to learn about our latest initiatives, key accomplishments, updates on existing projects, collaborations, events, and more.

Highlights

Governance Summit 2025

Bharti Institute of Public Policy organised the third edition of its annual, flagship event, Governance Summit, themed, “Megatrends and Policy Shifts: Charting India's Future”, at ISB Mohali campus. Over 250 delegates, participants including industry experts, academics and research scholars from noted institutes from across the region attended the summit.

The summit witnessed three insightful panel discussions— Sustainability and Climate Action; Digital Governance; and Institutional Reforms and Governance Transformation.

In his opening remarks, Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor and Executive Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, stressed that true megatrends arise from the interplay of technology, policy, markets, and culture, emphasising the need for safety nets and social security to counter rising inequality.

Sujeet Kumar, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), delivered a powerful valedictory address, linking the summit's theme to the “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision, citing four defining megatrends: AI, sustainable development, geopolitical reordering, and the future of work.

At the summit, a fireside chat with senior journalist and political commentator Neerja Chowdhury, followed by a discussion on her book, “How Prime Ministers Decide”, turned out to be a masterclass in understanding the evolution of India’s political scenario over the past three decades.

Dr. Aarushi Jain, Policy Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, in her concluding remarks, advocated for adaptive, people-centric governance, urging a shift from fragmentation to systematic, equity-led transformation, and presented the "four R's" for future policy action.

Book Launch

The highlight of the Governance Summit was the launch of the book “Lakhpati Kisan: Transforming Agriculture Based Livelihoods for Smallholder Farmers in India”-the third volume in the book series, “Innovations, Practice, and the Future of Public Policy in India”.

Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor and Research Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy introduced the book to the audience, highlighting its documentation of the CInI initiative that helped smallholder farmers in central India earn over one lakh annually. The newly launched, open-source book documents how the initiative engaged with households in 12 districts across four states – Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Gujarat – to bring about change through economic empowerment and improve the quality of life of tribal communities.

Inauguration of the tenth batch of the Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy

The tenth batch of the Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy was inaugurated on 8th August 2025, at the ISB Mohali campus. Mr. Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice-Chairman, Bharti Enterprises; Member of the Board, Indian School of Business; Chairman, ISB Mohali Campus Advisory Board (MCAB), and Advisory Council of the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, delivered an inspiring address at the inaugural.

Reflecting back on the journey of the ISB’s Mohali campus and the Bharti Institute, Mr. Mittal shared his deep commitment towards education and institution-building. He urged the cohort participants to leverage their time in the programme to exchange ideas, broaden perspectives to drive meaningful impact in public policy.

During the inaugural session, Dr. Aarushi Jain, Policy Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, welcomed the participants and outlined the institute’s vision, core functions, and key initiatives.

The tenth batch is a pan-India class of 54 accomplished professionals from over 15 states, that includes 35 % women participants. The cohort includes 29 government officials including 9 IAS, 9 IRS, 3 IPS, 2 PCS besides 5 officials from various branches of Indian Railway and one officer from the Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS). From the private sector, the cohort boasts of 25 senior executives from reputed firms representing Healthcare, Financial Services, IT & Technology Services, Consulting & Business Services, and E-commerce. The average work experience of the batch is 15+ years.

Launch of Jeevika Didi Haats

In a significant step towards strengthening nutrition and food security in rural areas across Bihar, Bharti Institute of Public Policy’s Indian Food Systems for Improved Nutrition (INFUSION) initiative along with the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society, launched the ‘JEEViKA Didi Haats’ in district Nalanda, Bihar. The first unit of Didi Haats was launched by the chief guest Shrawan Kumar, Minister of Rural Development, Government of Bihar.

Aimed at tackling poor hygiene, cleanliness and food safety, this initiative stands to promote healthy, accessible, and hygienic food markets in rural Bihar, focusing on nutritious food items such as vegetables, fruits, milk, eggs, and fish. Considering that 70% to 90% of nutritious food consumed by rural populations comes from local markets, the Government of Bihar along with the INFUSION team has identified this area as a key priority for improvement.

These haats offer a healthy marketplace and serve as a platform for local farmers to sell their produce and offer livelihood opportunities for women.

New Initiatives

Bharti Institute of Public Policy signs MoU with JEEVIKA, Rural Development Department, Government of Bihar

The Bharti Institute of Public Policy and the JEEVIKA, Rural Development Department, Government of Bihar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build capacity and develop research-based knowledge outcomes for effective policy support to Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society - JEEVIKA (BRLPS). The MoU was signed by Prof. Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor & Executive Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, and Abhilasha Sharma (IAS), Additional Chief Executive Officer, Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society (BRLPS-JEEViKA) in Patna. As part of this collaboration, the 'JEEViKA Research Fellowship' will be instituted at the Programme Management Unit (PMU) to technically support advance research along with monitoring and evaluation of thematic interventions, and effective convergence of the government sponsored programmes in the state.

Other key focus areas of this collaboration include joint research and technical publications, impact studies (including RCTs), and capacity building.

Bharti Institute of Public Policy Signs MoU with Government of Andhra Pradesh

The Bharti Institute of Public Policy signed an MoU with the Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district administration, Department of Tribal Welfare, and the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty. The MoU, signed in the presence of Chief Minister of AP N. Chandrababu Naidu, establishes a women-led forest economy model, where seasonal forest produce will be collected, processed, and marketed by producer companies. This intervention will be piloted in the Paderu division of the district. The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, celebrations at Vanjangi in Alluri Sitharama Raju District by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. The Chief Minister expressed keen interest in Bharti Institute’s proposed work and urged the team to explore all possible value additions along the value chain to sustainably maximise returns from forest produce.

Research Collaboration with ISWAI for Evaluation of the Policy Regime of the Alco-Bev Sector in India

The Bharti Institute of Public Policy, in collaboration with the International Spirits and Wines Association of India (ISWAI), is conducting an in-depth evaluation of the regulatory and taxation framework governing India’s alcoholic beverages sector. The research addresses key challenges associated with fragmented state-level excise policies, complex licensing structures, and varying compliance requirements, which collectively impact revenue generation, ease of doing business, and industry competitiveness. A preliminary evaluation report has already been submitted, highlighting baseline findings and initial reform options. The ongoing research will culminate in a comprehensive evidence-based analysis that will inform policy recommendations aimed at balancing economic growth, fiscal sustainability, industry efficiency, and public health considerations.

District as a Fulcrum of Growth- Amritsar for NITI Aayog

The Bharti Institute of Public Policy has undertaken a research-driven district transformation study for NITI Aayog, focused on positioning Amritsar as a regional growth hub. The research leverages the district’s socio-economic, geographic, and cultural strengths to design an evidence-based framework for inclusive and sustainable development. The study applies spatial analytics, advanced data modeling, and sectoral gap assessments to examine opportunities across agriculture, industry, tourism, livelihoods, and skill development. Key research tasks include district profiling, sector-specific opportunity mapping, benchmarking of infrastructure and human capital, and environmental potential assessments. Field visits are currently underway, and the research output includes evidence-backed frameworks, sectoral reports, and a strategic roadmap designed to be a replicable model for district-level economic transformation across India.

Education

Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy

The fourth and final residency of the ninth batch of the Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy was held from 11 July to 20 July at the ISB Mohali campus. The courses and corresponding faculty details are provided below:

Course	Faculty Name
Environmental Policy	Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor & Executive Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business
Urban Governance	O P Aggarwal, Visiting Faculty and Independent Consultant
Technology and Society	Ramnath K. Chellappa, Academic Director of the Master of Science in Business Analytics & Professor of Information Systems & Operations Management at the Goizueta Business School, Emory University.
Political Economy	Steven Block, Professor, International Economics, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University
Policy Communication	Kishalaya Bhattacharjee, Dean, Jindal School of Journalism & Communication; former NDTV Resident Editor
International Trade and Regulations	JS Deepak, IAS, Former Secretary, Department of Telecom; India’s Chief WTO Negotiator

The residency included an expert session and a two-day workshop for the cohort.

During the residency, an expert session was held by Anirudh Tewari, Director General, Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab, Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, Punjab. He highlighted the three main building blocks of governance: conflict resolution, ensuring fairness and balancing perspectives.
Addressing the participants, he said, “True governance is about timing and having the ability to hear what is unspoken and respond with sensitivity."
His session highlighted that strong institutions are the backbone of effective governance. They provide stability, safeguard liberty, and shape the nation’s social and economic fabric. These institutions are our legacy, and essential for building a resilient future. He concluded with a powerful thought: “A Viksit Bharat needs a Viksit Bharatiya!”
A one-day workshop on ‘Project Management in the Public Sector: An Australian Perspectives on Public Sector Project Management’ was conducted by Hugh Thomas, Consultant for Policy Performance. The session provided participants with foundational project management skills, emphasising techniques, methodologies, and tools applicable to managing projects within the government sector. The objective of the workshop was to equip participants with knowledge of project management frameworks while addressing specific challenges in government projects.
The sessions focus on the key concepts and principles of project management, with a particular focus on the distinct characteristics of public sector projects that necessitate a modified approach compared to those in the private sector. This was to familiarise the cohort with tools and methodologies essential for effective project planning enabling them able to apply these tools to both local and international examples of public sector initiatives. The sessions further highlighted the importance of stakeholder management, budgeting, and risk analysis in the formulation and successful implementation of a project management plan. Additionally, it explored and applied the processes required for executing and monitoring government projects, including techniques for tracking progress, reporting, and ensuring regulatory compliance.

A networking dinner was also organised for the outgoing class to enable the participants to connect with each other outside of the lecture halls.

Capstone Presentation

During their fourth residency, the ninth batch of the Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy also presented their capstone projects which were evaluated by the faculty and are further being developed into policy papers under the policy paper series of the institute.

First Residency of the Tenth Batch of the Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy

The first residency of the tenth batch of the Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy was held from 8 August to 18 August at the ISB Mohali campus.

The courses and corresponding faculty details are provided below:

Course	Faculty Name
Evidence in Public Policy	Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor & Executive Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business
Policy Design and Implementation	Amarjeet Sinha, IAS retd, Senior Fellow, Centre for Social and Economic Progress and former Advisor to the Prime Minister
Economics for Public Policy	Ashish Sachdeva, Visiting Faculty, Indian School of Business, and faculty at IIM(Udaipur)
Leadership for Policy Professionals	Rajeshwar Upadhyaya, Dean, Academy of Applied Emotional Intelligence, and Director, Par Excellence Leadership Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
Reading and Writing Analytically	Prof. Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor (Research) & Research Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business
Public Finance	Dr. Pushpinder Puniha, IRS, Chairman of the Tax Policy Consultative Group, NITI Aayog

The residency also included an expert session and a day-long workshop for the cohort.

The cohort attended a day-long workshop on “Generative AI for Policy Professionals”. The workshop was led by Dr. Aarushi Jain, and commenced with a session by Manudev Jain, Indian Revenue Services Officer and Deputy Commissioner in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The opening session, “Decoding Generative AI in the Policy World”, introduced participants to the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence. Concepts such as large language models (LLMs), fine-tuning, temperature, hallucination, and alignment were explained, alongside an overview of leading tools including ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. The discussion also traced the relatively short but significant policy history of ‘AI in Governance’ over the past decade.
In the second session, “Prompt Engineering and Multi-Tool Comparison”, participants learned how to craft effective prompts using the TIC-CO (Task, Instruction, Context – Constraints, Output) framework. The session covered system versus user prompts, techniques to reduce hallucinations, fact-checking, and setting guardrails. A group exercise followed, where participants tested a complex policy prompt across ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, comparing outputs for quality, accuracy, and usability, and consolidating their findings into recommendations.
The third session, “Create Your AI Agent or Chatbot”, provided hands-on practice. Each participant designed a chatbot tailored to a specific policy innovation task using the ChatGPT Edu version. They drafted prompts, tested their agents against potential failures, refined responses, exchanged peer feedback, and improved their designs.

The fourth session shifted focus to automating policy workflows with No Code / Low Code tools. Through live demonstrations, participants saw how trigger-to-action flows can streamline tasks—for example, generating tasks from emails, sending automated acknowledgements for form submissions, or pushing notifications from RSS feed updates.

The final session covered demos of various AI tools such as Gamma, Claude Artefact, Google Notebook LLM, OtterAI, and Napkin AI. A live demonstration of Otter AI showcased how automated transcription and summarisation tools can enhance productivity and collaboration in digital governance settings.
The workshop concluded with a showcase of participant-created chatbots. The top eight were selected for their clarity, effectiveness, and policy relevance. Each team presented its chatbot in a five-minute Q&A, demonstrating how AI for policy can strengthen the future of policy and policy leadership.
An expert session titled ‘Rule of Law’ by Pankaj Kumar Singh, IPS (Retd.) & Deputy National Security Advisor, Government of India, was held. The expert talk session, titled, ‘Rule of Law’ by Pankaj Kumar Singh, IPS (Retd.) & Deputy National Security Advisor, Government of India, underscored the central role of law in safeguarding democracy, preventing arbitrariness, and protecting citizens’ rights. The session explored systemic challenges across institutions, including delays in justice, capacity gaps in enforcement, and issues of accountability, while also highlighting positive reforms such as digital governance initiatives, financial inclusion, and landmark judicial decisions. Emphasis was placed on building strong institutions, integrating technology, and ensuring governance that is transparent, accountable, and people centric.

A networking dinner was also organised for the new cohort on the eve of the Independence Day wherein the cohort participated interacted with each other and also showcased their creative side.

Updates On Existing Projects

Initiative on the Forest Economy (IoFE)

The IoFE has its living laboratories—regionally embedded, expansive demonstration sites, showcasing the transformative potential of forests in driving positive socio-economic change across Jharkhand, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, and Maharashtra.

Regional Planning Workshops – Koraput & Bhubaneswar, Odisha:
Two regional planning workshops were conducted to align field teams and strengthen operational planning across six districts in Odisha. The first workshop was held in Jeypore, Koraput for district coordinators and community enterprise support interns from Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, and Rayagada. The second workshop in Bhubaneswar was held for field teams from Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar.

The sessions covered critical legal frameworks including the 5th Schedule, PESA Act, FRA, and CFRMC formation, with emphasis on their implementation in Odisha and the rights relevant to fieldwork and enterprise operations. The team members also explored the interplay between sustainability and market forces in forest-based operations, debriefed on recent Sal and Karanj seed sales, and engaged in district-wise planning discussions to develop six-month operational plans.
State-Level FPO Workshop, Jharkhand
The Sidho-Kanho Agriculture and Forest Produce State Co-operative Federation Limited (SIDHKOFED) organised a state-level workshop in Ranchi on the “Role of FPOs in Strengthening Jharkhand's Agricultural and Forest Produce Economy”. The event brought together senior government officials, alongside FPO representatives from across Jharkhand and participating startups including Farmart and Terviva. The IoFE team presented their work with producer companies across states, emphasising the efficient model of PC formation followed by sales within two months, drawing on experiences from both Jharkhand and Odisha.
Training on Record Keeping at Producer Company Level, Odisha
A one-day training on record keeping was conducted for field assistants and district coordinators from Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts. The session was facilitated by Bikash Kumar Sahu, Project Specialist. The training focused on three core areas: understanding business transaction processes, establishing standard record maintenance procedures, and familiarising participants with essential recordkeeping formats.
Srama Labha' Distribution in Keonjhar, Odisha
The Srama Labha distribution commenced in Keonjhar district for the current season. The Jhumpura Block Producer Company (pending registration) distributed payments to 41 primary collectors in Nayagarh and Kanadajodi villages, marking an important step toward ensuring fair compensation for forest produce collectors. Presently, all PCs involved in sales have achieved healthy profit margins. Srama Labha is a patronage bonus mechanism that ensures primary collectors receive a fair price for their produce. The fair price is determined by deducting the producer company's operational costs, management expenses, shareholder provisions, and GST from the final sale price.

Producer Company Formation Progress – ASR District, Andhra Pradesh
The formation of five producer companies is underway, across three divisions in Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district— Rampachodavaram, Chinturu, and Paderu. The planned PCs are Rampa Forest Producer Company Limited and Alluri Sitharama Raju Forest Producer Company Limited in Rampachodavaram division, Adavi Thalli Forest Producer Company Limited in Chinturu division, and Vanagiri Forest Producer Company Limited and Manyam Forest Producer Company Limited in Paderu division.

Producer Company Formation Process Initiated in Udaipur, Lahaul Spiti, Himachal Pradesh
The process of forming a producer company in Udaipur sub-division, Lahaul Spiti, is in progress. A meeting was jointly organised in this regard by the IoFE team and the local administration. The meeting brought together 70 women from Mahila Mandals and self-help groups across different villages of the Udaipur sub-division. SDM Udaipur, Alisha Chauhan, also attended the session. The meeting covered the concept of producer company, its potential benefits for local community members. Participants learnt about the connection between Community Forest Rights (CFR) and Producer Companies, drawing on the Pangi experience of CFR claim generation. Anita Thakur from Pir Panjal Jungal Producer Company, shared detailed insights on company formation, board of directors’ selection, registration process, and outcomes from the first Hazelnut sale, including member incomes and future following their AGM.

The Udaipur sub-division spans five geographic regions: Miad valley (8 villages), Nainghar (5 villages), Jhalma (14 villages), Udaipur (14 villages), and Tindi (8 villages). The Miad, Nainghar, and Tindi areas have high availability of special forest produce, including Kala Jeera, Gucchi, Kadu, Patish, Dhoop, and Ban Lahasun. Participants shared challenges they face in SFP collection and marketing, expressing strong interest in establishing a PC modelled on the Pangi experience. An ad hoc committee of 15 members was formed to facilitate region-wise meetings for board of directors’ selection once weather and road conditions improve. This committee will mobilise women from SHGs, Mahila Mandals, and independent collectors across all five regions.
World Bamboo Day Celebration
On World Bamboo Day, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, co-organised a two-day event with the Phoenix Foundation and other organisations to advance India's bamboo sector transformation and position Maharashtra as the Bamboo Capital of India. The two-day event, held in Mumbai, was attended by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, besides ministers from the state including that of Agriculture, Finance, Education, and Rural Development, and senior officials from MITRA. During the industry panel discussion, IoFE national coordinator, Sandip Chowdhury emphasised the importance on the establishing the business ecosystem at the first mile of the bamboo supply chain. He highlighted how women led community enterprises can formalise this economy and tenure secured gram sabhas can ensure sustainable governance of bamboo.
DC Office, Chamba, and Bharti Institute of Public Policy sign a three-year MoU to Promote a Sustainable Forest Economy
The Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) Office, Chamba, has signed a landmark three-year MoU with the Bharti Institute of Public Policy (BIPP). The collaboration aims to strengthen forest governance, enhance community tenure security, and catalyse women-centred livelihood opportunities in Himachal Pradesh. The partnership encompasses six major areas of intervention to create a robust forest economic model in Chamba district. These are Resource Inventory and Technology, Implementation of Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR), Women-Centric Enterprise Development, Institutional Capacity Building, Joint Coordination Mechanism and Research and Documentation. The collaboration will build on the existing successful pilots in Pangi valley and extend the forest governance framework to broader areas of Chamba district.

Enabling Nutrition and Agriculture Convergence through Technical Support (ENACTS)

MoU with District Administration of Kadapa
As part of the Enabling Agriculture-Nutrition Convergence through Technical Support (ENACTS) project, the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business has partnered with the District Administration of Kadapa to launch a pilot programme on Nutrition–Agriculture Convergence. Consequently, an MoU was signed by Dr Sreedhar Cherukuri (IAS), Collector and District Magistrate, YSR Kadapa, Government of Andhra Pradesh and Prof. Ashwini Chhatre in the presence of DRDA PD Rajyalakshmi, Deputy DMHO Maheshwara Kumar, ICDS, Medical health department, Agriculture, Horticulture department, and other CNF officials. This collaboration will improve availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutrient-dense foods; strengthen mid-day meals & smart kitchens in schools and anganwadi centres; empower women’s self-help groups, farmers, and anganwadi workers to drive change at the grassroots; conduct timely, site-based research through ENACTS’ Rapid Response Research (RRR) unit. With this collaboration, Kadapa takes a strong step towards ensuring better nutrition for vulnerable groups, especially pregnant women and children, by prioritising nutrient-rich food production.

Visit to Dhenkanal district, Odisha
The team undertook an explorative visit to Kankadahada block of Dhenkanal district of Odisha to gain deeper insights into the Odisha Agriculture Production Cluster (APC) initiative, led by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha. Guided by the field teams of PRADAN and SRISTI, this visit focused on understanding how grassroots facilitating agencies, women producer groups, and local collectives are shaping pathways for gender-sensitive agri-nutrition convergence in Odisha.

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

A meeting was held with the official of Food Industry Capacity & Skill Initiative (FICSI) pertaining to the capacity building of the nutrient dense food (NDF) vendors. A three-day training by FICSI was also organised for the vendors on food handling and safety. The team of INFUSION along with FICSI officials also visited Jeevika Didi Haats.
The INFUSION team participated in the vendor selection process for both NDF and non-NDF vendors and created individual business plans for each vendor.
To create awareness about Jeevika Didi Haats, social media campaigns are in progress, and key messages are being shared on existing groups of Aradhna CLF.
To further scale up the initiative, the team visited four haats under MGNREGA with officials of BRLPS, MicroSave Consulting, and Prof. Bhawani Shankar from the University of Sheffield.
The team attended meetings with the State Social Development Manager (SPM) Neeraj Kumar for creating pathway for the implementation of Nutrition Security Fund and with Prem Prakash (SPM, MIS) for creating MIS system for NSF.
A drawing competition for children of Jeevika Didi Haat initiative was organised wherein 52 children participated showcasing their creativity. This activity was jointly conducted by Aradhana Cluster Level Federation and INFUSION team, followed by a prize distribution event.

Meghalaya Legislative Research Fellowship (MLRF) Programme

Under the MLRF programme, a series of meetings were held with legislators of the state to present the constituency profile for their respective constituencies. The discussions included the officials from the Meghalaya Institute of Governance (MIG), fellows of the Meghalaya Legislative Research Fellowship (MLRF) and Meghalaya District Research Fellowship (MDRF). Each discussion explored how sectors including education, health, livelihood, infrastructure, and social welfare have been performing, using datapoints to highlight each constituency’s progress and challenges. The meetings were held with the MLA of Salmanpara- Ian Botham K. Sangma, MLA of Mendipathar- Marthon J. Sangma, MLA of Amlarem- Lahkmen Rymbui, MLA of Ranikor- Pius Marwein, MLA of Dalu- Brening A Sangma, and MLA of Mawshynrut- Methodis Dkhar. The meetings were helpful building a shared understanding priorities and identifying practical steps to strengthen development efforts moving forward.
Regional Dialogue on Mindful Development and Youth Leadership
The Regional Dialogue on Mindful Development and Youth Leadership held at the Meghalaya Institute of Governance, Shillong, brought together changemakers including Dr. Neel, Dr. Indrani, Additional Secretary from the Government of Assam, and filmmaker Rocky. Discussions centered on the “River and Mountain” community identity, Bhutan’s Gelephu mindful city model, and making governance more sensitive to culture and gender.
Harvard Growth Lab Workshop: Adaptive Leadership and Economic Growth
The fellows of the Meghalaya Legislative Research Fellowship (MLRF) and Meghalaya District research Fellowship (MDRF) participated in a workshop with the Harvard Growth Lab Team, centered on Economic Growth and Youth Economic Opportunities in Meghalaya, with a particular emphasis on Adaptive Leadership and Economic Growth. The session explored how adaptive leadership principles could be applied to address complex policy challenges in the state. A subsequent workshop was conducted by the Harvard Growth Lab, further deepening the discourse on adaptive leadership and economic growth. This session focused on diagnosing adaptive problems using the balcony and dance floor framework, and examining stakeholder dynamics through an exploration of values, loyalties, and potential losses associated with specific policy issues.
A team from the Meghalaya Institute of Governance (MIG), Meghalaya Legislative Research Fellowship (MLRF), Meghalaya District Research Fellowship (MDRF), and the Indian School of Business (ISB) visited Weiing, the lakefront camp at Mawsynram to meet with MLA Ollan Sing Suin. The discussion focused on exploring how tourism could serve as a catalyst for local development in the constituency. Participants exchanged ideas on strengthening tourism through better branding and promotion, identifying untapped tourist destinations within Mawsynram, and creating opportunities for local employment. The meeting also reflected on charting a clear roadmap to guide future efforts in making tourism more sustainable, inclusive, and beneficial for the local community.
A team from the Meghalaya Institute of Governance (MIG), Meghalaya Legislative Research Fellowship (MLRF), Meghalaya District Research Fellowship (MDRF) and the Indian School of Business (ISB), had a meeting with the Hon’ble Speaker, Thomas A. Sangma, Hon’ble Deputy Speaker, Timothy D. Shira, Commissioner & Secretary, Dr. Andrew Simons, Principal Secretary, Sampath Kumar, IAS, and Hon’ble MLAs, Lakhmen Rymbui, Rupert Momin, Dr Celestine Lyngdoh and Ollan Sing Suin.
A presentation was made by Dr. Aarushi Jain, Dr. Lavinia Mawlong, Sanaphisha L. R. Tariang (MLRF) and Nakiwanlang Shullai (MLRF), on the Legislators’ Vision for Growth: Constituency Development Plans, Meghalaya. The presentation covered the activities which the Legislators participated in during their visit to the Fletcher School, Tufts University, USA. It also focuses on the 24 Constituency Development Plans (CDPs). After the presentation a detailed discussion was held with all the participants of the meeting.
Participation in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Autumn Session 2025
The Fellows were allotted to their respective legislators on the first week of August. Meetings were held with the legislators before the commencement of the Autumn Session.

Meghalaya District Research Fellowship (MDRF) Programme

The District Research Fellows (DRFs) under the Meghalaya District Research Fellowship (MDRF) continued their crucial role in supporting district administrations across the state through research, data management, and programme coordination.
The quarter saw active participation by fellows in implementing and monitoring government initiatives such as the Chief Minister’s Catalytic Fund (CMCF), CM-Connect, DC-Connect, District Action Plan (DAP), and Constituency Development Plan (CDP). The fellows also engaged in training, fieldwork, and policy research, reflecting the programme’s commitment to evidence-based governance and administrative efficiency.
Their contributions, in close collaboration with Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Additional Deputy Commissioners (ADCs), District Programme Officers (DPOs), and line departments, helped ensure data accuracy, programme tracking, and participatory governance across Meghalaya.
The Chief Minister’s Catalytic Fund remained a central focus during this period, with DRFs assisting district administrations in data verification, proposal drafting, and progress monitoring. From the East Garo Hills District, the fellows collaborated with the SDG Committee and line departments to compile project reports and upload submissions to the DC Connect Portal. From the Eastern West Khasi Hills District, the fellows worked alongside the Additional Deputy Commissioner to draft and refine proposals in alignment with district priorities. From the South Garo Hills District, the fellows verified data and maintained fund progress records in coordination with the District Planning Department. While the District Action Plan (DAP) is overseen by district administrations, DRFs played an important role in data compilation, review, and uploading during this period.
A two-day workshop was conducted by the team of ISB at MIIT, Shillong. The workshop, led by Dr. Aarushi Jain, was structured to integrate collaborative team building, concise policy writing, and generative AI skills with communication practices and cohort engagement. The workshop aimed to strengthen teamwork through role-based problem solving, build skill in the formulation of concise, decision-oriented policy caselets, introduction to Generative AI in public policy workflows and enhancement of content capture for official purposes, including photography and social media.

Platform for Development Research and Communications

Under this initiative, five out of the six volumes are currently in the post-production stage. These include, “Improving Nutritional Outcomes: Connecting the Dots through Grounded Action”, “Reimagining Institutions: Collaborative Pathways to Social Development in India”, “Changing Tides: Climate Action and Justice in India”, “ Healthcare for All: Community Action and Public Systems for an Inclusive India”, and “Improving Learning Outcomes in Schools: Understanding the Challenge of Quality in the Indian Context”. The launch dates for these volumes are now available on the Routledge website. The sixth volume, “Weaving Pathways to Rural Prosperity”, is currently being finalised for production and is expected to have a confirmed release date soon. Preparations are also underway for the official launch of all six volumes, scheduled for 21st December 2025 in New Delhi, which will bring together policymakers, academics, development practitioners, and institutional partners to celebrate this milestone initiative.

Thought Leadership

Dr. Aarushi Jain, Policy Director & Head, Government Affairs, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business spoke at the 2nd Sustainable Agriculture Summit & Awards 2025 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, highlighting the need to unlock decentralised institutional demand, build stronger Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO)-led value chains, and invest in youth-driven rural innovation to shape a resilient agricultural future.

Prof. Anjal Prakash delivered the theme address at the ESG and Sustainability Leadership Summit 2025, themed, 'Embedding ESG for Sustainable and Resilient Business and Supply Chains', organised by the UN Global Compact Network India.

Dr. Aarushi Jain, spoke at Leadership Colloquium Lecture Series at Rishihood University about Leadership, covering various themes like AI and its governance implications, Women’s issues and inclusive policy design, Leadership challenges, and core characteristics.

Gaurav Kishen, Project Specialist, Bharti Institute of Public Policy represented the INFUSION initiative at the State-Level Nutrition Conference in Patna. The event was organised by the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), in collaboration with the PATH, and under the leadership of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) department, Government of Bihar.

Sandip Chowdhury, National Coordinator, IoFE, participated in an industry panel at an event co-organised by Bharti Institute of Public Policy, the Phoenix Foundation, and other organisations to advance India's bamboo sector transformation and position Maharashtra as the Bamboo Capital of India.

As part of the existing knowledge partnership between Bharti Institute of Public Policy and the Government of Goa, the Department of Higher Education, Goa, invited Dr. Aarushi Jain to deliver the keynote address at the, 'Human Capital for Viksit Bharat,' workshop with a focus on 'Higher Education: Knowledge Economy', organised by the state government in Panaji.

Dr. Aarushi Jain held a meeting with the Hon’ble CM of Goa Dr. Pramod Sawant to further support the Department of School Education, Goa, in their efforts to improve their PARAKH/NAS ratings and overall improvement in the quality of school education in the state. A report on the ‘Status of School Education in Goa’ was submitted in this regard previously.

Research Publication & Blogs

Prof. Anjal co-authored a research paper, ‘Bridging the gap: Promoting gender equity in climate change adaptation in the global south, along with Edmond Totin, Georgina Kemp, Rachel Bezner Kerr, and Debra Roberts, published in PLOS Climate.
Prof. Anjal co-authored a research article, 'Building Bengaluru's water future: identifying challenges and a strategic blueprint for sustainable management,’ along with Ritwick George, Research Assistant, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, Anand Ravichander, Chandana Ganduri, Karan Goyal, Krishnan Pallavur Balakrishnan, Subhankar Mukherjee, and Vikas Gupta.
Aparajita Sharma, an alumnus of the Advanced Management Programme (Public Policy), authored a Policy Paper titled, ‘Sustainability Through ICTs: Special Focus on E-Waste Management and Circular Economy,’ published by the Bharti Institute of Public Policy as part of its Public Policy series.
Bharti Institute of Public Policy published over 35 blogs on various topics touching upon the various facets of the policy landscape of India. Read here

BHARTI INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC POLICY IN NEWS

Bharti Institute of Public Policy regularly features in news articles across print and digital media. A representative list is presented below:

The third edition of the Governance Summit was extensively covered across media outlets.

Enhancing bamboo production skills and market access for tribal communities in Andhra Pradesh through field study by ISB and SERP. Read in The Hindu

Bridging the gap between women and the market is Green Shakti Producer Company Business Enterprise Leadership Cohort, an initiative launched by the department of Mission Shakti in collaboration with the Bharti Institute of Public Policy at Indian School of Business. Read in The News Indian Express.

The launch of the Didi Haat Initiative was covered across media outlets in Bihar.

TEAM IN NEWS

Prof. Ashwini Chhatre shared his thoughts on the inclusivity of India’s green energy transition in the latest episode of The Hindu Business Line's State of the Economy Podcast,' Are forests the missing piece in India's climate plan? Listen here or read more here

Prof. Anjal published an OpEd titled, ‘Himachal floods: How can Himalayan region safeguard its people, heritage, ecosystems from climate change,’ Read more here

Prof. Anjal co-authored a Forbes article titled, ‘Transforming Millet Consumption: Strategies for market engagement and technology integration. Read here.

Prof. Anjal published an OpEd titled, ‘Tsunami risk rising: Here’s what we can learn from 2025 Russia earthquake,' discussing the massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30, 2025, triggering tsunami warnings across the North Pacific, including Japan, Hawaii, and the U.S. West Coast. Read more

Following the devastating Uttarkashi cloudburst, Prof. Anjal Prakash participated in prime-time news debates sharing his insights on the tragedy. Watch full discussions here and here. Read the full OpEd

Prof. Anjal Prakash published an OpEd, 'What Put Dharali in Harm’s Way?’ Read here.

In an Op-Ed, 'Dissecting the myth of China’s control over the Brahmaputra,' and an interview, 'Is India’s Water Blockade the Death Knell Pakistan Doesn’t See Coming?' Prof. Anjal Prakash discussed the geopolitical use of water as a strategic tool or perceived threat.

In an interview, We Are Not Listening To the Alarms, Prof. Anjal Prakash, emphasises Himalayan region abnormal weather calamites as part of a new climate reality driven by warming oceans, shifting monsoon patterns, and local geographic factors. Read here.

Prof. Anjal Prakash published an OpEd,’ India at 79: Policy paradoxes and political priorities mostly steered urban planning, environment ignored.’ Read here.

In an OpEd, 'A rising Yamuna and the cost of unplanned growth in Delhi-NCR,' Prof. Anjal Prakash, argues that Delhi-NCR’s recent Yamuna floods highlight the severe costs of unplanned urban growth, where rapid expansion over floodplains, wetlands, and natural drainage routes has eroded the city’s resilience to extreme weather. Read here.

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 policymakers by providing them with critical, evidence-based public policy analysis rooted in data. The institute addresses policy challenges across diverse domains, primarily in Agriculture and Food, Environment, Education, Financial Policy, Governance, and Digital Identity.