Policy UpdateMansi TirthaniBackgroundDespite having the world’s third largest share of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) doctorates, India’s scientific ecosystem has long faced challenges. From financial disbursements to core research, at global level many common comparative indicators have remained...
Policy UpdateShruti SethiBackground India’s tea industry occupies a distinctive place in the country’s rural economy. It is the world’s largest producer and consumer of black tea, and in 2024 it ranked as the third-largest tea exporter globally, with exports touching...
Policy UpdateViksha AdhinarayananIntroductionMalnutrition continues to be one of India’s biggest public health challenges, even with significant improvements in food production and economic development. Food security has increased, but many people still experience hidden hunger, a type of malnutrition caused...
Manish ThakreEvery year, millions of young people appear for India’s high-stakes competitive examinations. When some of them publicly raise concerns about the conduct or fairness of examinations, they are almost always described simply as “students.” They are indeed students....
Policy UpdateShivali Yadav1. BackgroundThe National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 introduced the concept of an Academic Bank of Credits, a digital system where students could accumulate credits earned from accredited institutions and later use them for transfer, accumulation, or redemption...
Policy UpdateAkshat JangidIntroductionThe South Caucasus is a strategic region that has traditionally been shaped by competition among Russia, Turkey, Iran, and Western powers. However, in recent years, India has established a more visible presence in the region through its...
Policy UpdateParidhi PassiBackgroundBefore this reform began, India’s statute books contained thousands of provisions where relatively harmless lapses, such as a missed filing deadline, an incorrect entry in a register, or a delayed renewal, could technically expose a citizen or...
Policy UpdateYashkirti PalBACKGROUNDLeft-Wing Extremism (LWE) has historically posed one of the most persistent and potent challenges to India’s internal security fabric. Characterised by protracted guerilla warfare across the mineral-rich but socio-economically marginalised tribal tracts of the “Red Corridor”, the...
Policy UpdateTanvi NerurkarIntroductionIndia’s urban population is expected to reach nearly 600 million by 2030, accounting for about 40% of the country’s total population (Observer Research Foundation , 2025; OECD Observatory of Public Sector Innovation , 2024). This rapid growth...
Policy UpdateAmbika SharmaIntroductionIndia’s traditional industries have often been viewed not only as a form of economic activity but also as a symbol of craftsmanship and cultural heritage, providing millions of artisans with livelihoods and financial support across rural and...
