Challenges of Establishing a World-Class Public Policy Institution in India
Policy-making is largely controlled by the executive, limiting input from policy experts and academics.
The legislature’s limited oversight over the executive reduces the influence of think tanks and policy institutions.
This weakens the policy ecosystem, as policy professionals struggle to gain access to decision-makers without political alignment.
Changes in leadership disrupt policy continuity, making it hard for policy professionals to maintain influence.
India’s political system relies on informal networks and regional dynamics, complicating policy work.
Way Forward
Focus on India’s unique political realities, teaching students how to navigate informal power structures and regional influences.
Equip students with policy expertise and the ability to understand and work within India’s complex power dynamics.
Cultivate empathy for people’s real-life challenges, ensuring policies are grounded in local needs.
Create a non-partisan, inclusive space where legitimacy is based on the quality of policy, not political alignment.
Build a network across politics, bureaucracy, and civil society to ensure policy influence remains stable across regimes.
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