Annual Status of Education Report + PPI's Pune Meet-up!
Policy Post #177
Dear Reader, Hope you're doing well! This week in Policy Charcha, we explore a surprising shift—India’s government schools have not only recovered from pandemic learning losses but surpassed pre-2020 levels! ASER 2024 suggests that the NEP 2020 reforms are making a tangible impact, but what’s really driving this progress?
We’re also thrilled to announce PPI’s in-person policy community meet-up in Pune, in partnership with Kautilya School of Public Policy! Join us on Sunday, 23rd March, for insightful discussions on policymaking, higher education, and career pathways. Stay tuned for more details in our city chapters!
For our video highlight, we examine why homeownership feels out of reach for India’s middle class. As housing prices skyrocket, even IT professionals with stable incomes are struggling to buy homes—what’s fueling this crisis?
In Climate + Health Corner, we look at the impact of Trump’s 2025 executive order halting foreign aid. With USAID playing a crucial role in India’s healthcare and development sectors, what will this decision mean for key programmes in the country?
Do consider supporting PPI by buying us a coffee ☕ (or two!) if you’ve found our work to be valuable :)
With that, we bring to you: Policy Post #177!
Policy Charcha 💬
The best of Podcasts, Videos, Essays, Fellowships and other Career resources from the world of Policy and Governance from the week gone by!
💡 Article Highlight:
ASER (Annual Status of Education Report) 2024 brings good news; learning levels in government schools have not just recovered post-pandemic but surpassed pre-2020 levels, marking a major shift! With foundational literacy and numeracy improving nationwide, the data suggests NEP 2020's systemic push is driving real change. But what’s behind this remarkable progress?
👀 Something that caught our eye:
The bedsheets in Kerala’s government hospitals have the day printed on them to ensure they are changed daily!
👥 In case you missed it
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🔎 Databases and Guides:
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▶️Video Highlight:
👉🏽 Buying a home in India feels nearly impossible right now! Bengaluru-based IT professionals Ravi and Nisha Kapoor set out to find a 3BHK apartment with a ₹90 lakh budget; only to realise that even the most basic options start at ₹1.2-1.4 crore.
And it's not just Bengaluru, home prices have skyrocketed across the country, making homeownership a distant dream for the middle class. But what’s driving this surge?
Climate + Health Corner
In Partnership With Swasti, The Health Catalyst
👉🏽 USAID’S Impact on India
USAID has played a crucial role in India's health and development sectors, disbursing over $2.8 billion since 2001. In recent years, its focus has been on healthcare [Covid-19 response, TB, HIV/AIDS] along with environmental protection and infrastructure projects like 5G O-RAN under the US Indo-Pacific strategy. Between 2022-24, annual funding exceeded $150 million, with the majority going to health and population programmes. However, Trump’s 2025 executive order to halt foreign aid puts these initiatives at risk, threatening critical healthcare support and developmental projects across India.
👥 Community Updates:
Public Policy India (PPI), in partnership with Kautilya School of Public Policy, is excited to host our in-person policy community meet-up and workshop engagement in Pune! Join us on Sunday, 23rd March, for an engaging discussion on policy-making, higher education in the field, and career opportunities in this space.
How to join? Simply join the PPI Pune City Chapter. More details on the same will be shared on the City Chapter!
Admissions are now open for the Master's Program in Public Policy (MPP) at Kautilya School of Public Policy. This 2-year, full-time residential program offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to expand your knowledge and skills, while engaging with the real challenges of India. Apply now—last date is February 28th, 2025!
PS: KSPP offers up to 100% scholarships, with over two-thirds of applicants receiving aid. The vast majority are awarded scholarships covering more than 50% of their fees.
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Careers Corner 💼
A curated list of some of the best jobs and internship opportunities this week from the world of public policy, the development sector, impact consulting and communications at large.
📩 Best bit - if you know of a job/internship opening that’s not listed here, kindly just add that as a comment on the sheet: giving 20,000+ people immediate access to it!
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