The Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, launched Six Volumes of Micro Studies in Human Development at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi on 21st December, marking a milestone in development research. Developed under the Platform for Development Research and Communication (PDRC) initiative, these volumes, published in partnership with Routledge under the book series, “Innovations, Practice and the Future of Public Policy in India”, represent the collaborative spirit of 192 authors who contributed their expertise across 102 chapters.

The six volumes are: ‘Improving Learning Outcomes in Schools: Understanding the Challenge of Quality in the Indian Context’ ; ‘Healthcare for All: Community Action and Public Systems for an Inclusive India’; ‘Improving Nutritional Outcomes: Connecting the Dots through Grounded Action’; ‘Pathways to Rural Prosperity: Livelihood Interventions and Transformation in India’ ; ‘Changing Tides: Climate Action and Justice in India’; and ‘Reimagining Institutions: Collaborative Pathways to Social Development in India.’

Prof Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor (Research) & Research Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, commenced the launch with his remarks, highlighting the significance of bridging research with actionable policy. He further acknowledged the relentless efforts of the series editors including Prof. Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor & Executive Director, and Dr. Aarushi Jain, Policy Director and Head, Government Affairs, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, and Amarjeet Sinha, IAS (Retd.), Senior Fellow, Centre for Social & Economic Progress in steering this monumental project.

The launch event also featured six insightful panel discussions, each dedicated to its corresponding volume, exploring deeper insights.

Panellists for the discussions included N.V. Varghese, Visiting Professor, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay; Vrinda Sarup, IAS (retd.), Former Secretary, Dept. of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India (GoI); Rukmini Banerji, CEO, Pratham Education Foundation; K. Srinath Reddy, President, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI); Pavitra Mohan, Co-founder, Basic HealthCare Services; Sundararaman T, Global Coordinator, People's Health Movement; Vandana Prasad, Founding Secretary and Principal Technical Advisor, Public Health Resource Society, India; Arti Ahuja, IAS (retd.), Former Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India; Mirai Chatterjee, Chairperson, SEWA Cooperative Federation; Dr. Sekhar Bonu, IAS (Retd.), Senior Fellow, NITI Aayog ; Deepak Nayyar, Emeritus Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi; Ved Arya, Founding Director, The Buddha Institute; Saroj Mahapatra, Executive Director, Professional Assistance For Development Action (PRADAN); Nivedita Narain, Senior Research Advisor, Transform Rural India; Marcella D'Souza, Director, Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR), Centre for Resilience Studies (W-CReS); Purnamita Dasgupta, Chair, Environmental Economics, Institute of Economic Growth, University of Delhi (DU); Pushpinder S Puniha, Distinguished Fellow, NITI Aayog & Visiting Faculty, ISB; Sampath Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Community & Rural Development, Government of Meghalaya; Jugal Mohapatra, IAS (retd.), Former Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, GoI; Balveer Arora, Chairman, Centre for Multilevel Federalism, New Delhi.

Dr. Aarushi Jain delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledging the collaborative success of the event, outlining the strategic way forward, and noting that the coming year will be dedicated to intensive outreach and communication. She emphasised that the upcoming phase aims to ensure insights from these volumes reach policymakers, practitioners, and grassroots organisations, translating research into tangible social impact across the country.

Graduation Ceremony for the Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy

A joint graduation ceremony for the four Advanced Management Programmes, Class of 2025, was held at the ISB Mohali campus on 10th November. A total of 173 students across four advanced management programmes graduated including 40 from the 9th cohort of the Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy of the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business.

Sonali Giri earned the honour of being the ‘Valedictorian’ as well as the ‘Scholar of Excellence’. Bitan Chattopadhyay, Koti Kashyap, Ankita Raman, and Aditya Sharma made it to the prestigious ‘Dean’s List’. Prof. Ashwini Chhatre received the ‘Teacher of the Year Award’ and Dr. Motika Sinha Rymbai, Teaching Assistant cum Analyst, received the ‘Academic Associate of the Year Award’.

Delivering the keynote address, chief guest S. Radha Chauhan, Chairperson, Capacity Building Commission (CBC), Government of India, praised the graduates for their achievements and spoke about their pivotal role in achieving India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Chairman, ISB Mohali Campus Advisory Board and Advisory Council, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, and Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises, shared insights from his experience as the campus co-founder and a telecommunications industry leader. He expressed both optimism and caution about AI, noting that while new technologies serve humanity’s progress, they pose unique ethical challenges due to their autonomous decision-making. He underscored the moral responsibility of ensuring technology is used ethically and warned against emerging misuse. He outlined three guiding principles, which were transparency, flexibility and adaptability and emphasised the importance of continuous learning, unlearning.

Professor Madan Pillutla, Dean, ISB, congratulated graduates of the four rigorous programmes, noting their critical role in shaping India’s inclusive and resilient future.

The graduation ceremony ended with the ceremonial hat toss by the jubilant graduating students as their families and friends cheered on.

Launch of Data Hub

The Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, launched its ‘Data Hub’ at the Insights Forum held on 21st November at ISB Mohali campus. The data hub, developed to centralise and streamline data-related functions across all research projects and institutional initiatives, aims to transform how data is managed, analysed, and utilised. This platform for public data support, offers- (i.) unified repositories: access to high-resolution datasets and open-source data from the India Data Portal, (ii.) shared expertise: a common pool of data experts providing on-demand technical support for sourcing and processing, iii. standardised governance: unified protocols that ensure data quality and cross-project usability. The DataHub is built upon years of data excellence at ISB. It leverages the success of the India Data Portal—which hosts 190+ curated datasets—and existing state partnerships with the governments of Himachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.

The second residency of the tenth batch of the Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy was held from 31st October to 9th November at the ISB Hyderabad campus.

The courses and corresponding faculty details are provided below:

During the residency, a workshop on 'Emerging Technologies and Public Policy – Indian Perspectives and Global Developments,' was led by Dr. Yanamandra Srinivas, Fellow, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business. The workshop explored India’s experience with Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and how it redefined governance and policy innovation.

As part of the second residency, the participants of the Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy (AMPPP) explored the state-of-the-art facilities in Telangana, gaining invaluable insights into innovation and urban safety. The visit to T-HUB, India's leading startup incubator, followed by insightful presentations on its functioning by the T-HUB team, provided the participants with an in-depth look at its nationally recognised model for innovation. The participants also visited the Public Safety Integrated Operations Centre at the Cyberabad Police Headquarters for an extensive overview of its advanced security model, hosted by Sai Sri, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crime.

A gala dinner was also held during the residency enabling the participants to unwind and interact with their peers outside classrooms.

The Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, in collaboration with the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India, hosted a five-day sponsored training workshop from 17th to 21st November on, 'Understanding Human Dimensions of Climate Change: Impact, Adaptation and Mitigation,' at the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad campus. Led by Prof. Anjal Prakash, the cohort included more than 20 participants, comprising officers from government services including the IAS, IRS, IFoS, ITS, and others.

The workshop began with a session on 'Introduction and Understanding Climate Change', wherein participants explored the fundamental science of climate change, emphasising the importance of grasping biophysical impacts.

Prof. Raghu Murtugudde, Visiting Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, led an informative session on 'Understanding Climate Change and Its Biophysical Impacts & Group Work’.

Prof. Anjal Prakash conducted a session titled 'Debates on Climate Impacts and the Scientific Basis,' which fostered a nuanced understanding of the scientific foundations of climate change.

Prof. Purnamita Dasgupta, Chair, Environmental Economics, Institute of Economic Growth, University of Delhi, led sessions on impacts, adaptation, and mitigation concepts for developing countries, emphasising the interaction between climate risks and socio-economic aspects.

Ashok Lavasa, IAS (Retd.), Former Finance Secretary of India, Environment, Forests and Climate Change, led a session on climate change mitigation and the essential shift to energy transition from coal to renewable sources while ensuring energy security.

Indu K Murthy, Sector Head - Climate, Environment and Sustainability, introduced Systems Thinking as a foundational approach to unlock co-benefits by understanding linkages across energy, water, food, and livelihoods systems. Additionally, the cohort also undertook a field visit to the Modern Architects of Rural India (MARI) led by its Executive Director, Ramisetty Murali, for an immersive experience of grassroots climate adaptation and sustainable agriculture practices. Participants also observed the innovative ‘Monkey Food Court’, designed to reduce crop damage and enhance forest cover.

As part of the larger collaboration between the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business and the State Government of Meghalaya, an Advanced Leadership Programme was organised for the fellows of Meghalaya Legislative Research Fellowship (MLRF) and Meghalaya District Research Fellowship (MDRF) from 24th to 28th November in New Delhi. This intensive five-day programme was meticulously designed to equip the fellows with a comprehensive understanding of national policy design and implementation frameworks. Led by Dr. Aarushi Jain, the workshop’s sessions included ‘Geo-Political Landscape of Northeast and the Relations with our Neighbours and Beyond’ by Mohan Kumar, IAS (Retd.) and Professor of Diplomatic Practice, Jindal School of International Affairs & Director General, Motwani Jadeja Institute for American Studies; ‘Policy Formulation and Implementation for Socio-Economic Development’ by Saravana Kumar (IAS), Vice Chairman, Delhi Development Authority; ‘Designing Inclusive Public Policy: From Vision to Last-Mile Implementation in Rural India’ by Amarjeet Sinha (IAS Retd.), Senior Fellow, Centre for Social and Economic Progress; ‘Fireside Chat: Reimagining Gender through the Lens of Law’ hosted by Dr. Aarushi Jain with Chhaya Sharma, IPS, Special Commissioner of Police (Training), (SPUWAC & SPUNER), and Special Police Unit for Women and Children, Delhi Police.

A panel discussion on ‘Youth, Leadership, and Change: Building Tomorrow’, moderated by Saubhagya Samal, PMU Lead, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, with AMPPP alumni as panellists including Col. Anurag Awasthi (Retd.), CEO, Escape Velocity Media works Pvt. Ltd; Ankit Anand, Assistant Vice President (Public Policy), CoinDCX; Richa Sahni, Director, Stay Made Simple Pvt. Ltd.; and Katyayani Sanjay Bhatia, IRS, Deputy Commissioner, Tax Policy Research Unit, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, was also organised.

As part of the workshop, the participants also visited the prestigious Rashtrapati Bhavan, Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya, and Delhi Haat, gaining valuable insights into national governance, institutional arrangements, and a slice of India’s cultural fabric.

The workshop concluded with thought-provoking session with Sampath Kumar (IAS), Principal Secretary, Community & Rural Development, Government of Meghalaya.

The Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, organised the third Advanced Leadership and Motivation Programme for senior faculty members, Goa University, and officials of the Department of Higher Education, Government of Goa. The programme was attended by 31 participants at ISB Mohali campus, from 6th to 12th December. The programme, designed to enhance institutional leadership, academic governance, and innovative higher education models, was structured around two main components— Institutional Exposure Visit (Shimla, Himachal Pradesh) and the Leadership and Skill Development Modules.

During the course of the programme, the participants attended insightful sessions including ‘Strengthening Leadership Communication and Effective Connection Strategies’ by Gayatri Das Sharma, co-founder, Timshel Coaching & Consulting; ‘Adaptive Leadership in a VUCA World and Ethical Frameworks’ by Dr. Aarushi Jain; ‘Innovative Pedagogies with Timeless Principles Drawn from Indian Wisdom’ by Prof. Anjal Prakash; and ‘Learning Agility & ELQ Framework’ by Prof. R. Rajeshwar Upadhyay, Dean, Academy of Applied Emotional Intelligence (AAEI), and Director, Par Excellence Leadership Solutions Pvt Ltd.

During their visit to key institutions in Shimla including the Himachal Pradesh University, Rajkiya Kanya Mahavidyalaya (RKMV), and the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), the participants participated in discussions focussed on the ‘Right to Education and its Implications for Governance’, HPU's initiatives under NEP 2020, and research strengthening.

The programme highlighted the knowledge partnership between Bharti Institute of Public Policy and the Government of Goa for academic and policy strengthening, with a shared focus on NEP 2020 implementation and research goals.

The Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, is offering an open, self-paced, online Climate Change Programme designed to connect scientific evidence, policy choices, and public narratives. Led by Prof. Ashwini Chhatre, the four thoughtfully curated modules—Climate Science; Climate History & Impacts; Climate Politics; and Climate Futures— allow participants to gain a holistic understanding of the complex forces shaping the global climate trajectory. This programme is designed for professionals and practitioners who play a pivotal role in shaping public understanding, communication, and action on climate change. It is also suitable for anyone seeking to build a strong general understanding of climate change and its policy, economic, and social dimensions. Access the course here.

To strengthen market linkages, supply chains, and institutional frameworks supporting tribal women-led and women-centric forest-based Producer Companies, the Bharti Institute of Public Policy signed an MoU with FarMart Services Pvt. Ltd., India’s first SaaS-led B2B food supply platform. The MoU was formally signed between Prof. Ashwini Chhatre and Anirudh Patil, Head of Finance, FarMart on 6th November. The collaboration aims to support tribal women-led and women-participated forest-based producer companies. The key interventions under this collaboration include capacity building and training, institutional support for community enterprises, research, documentation, and knowledge sharing, sustainability and impact measurement.