Chennai Policy Circle, India House’s Policy Pioneers & a new Policy Panchayat episode
Policy Post #226
Dear Reader,
Public policy is not only about decisions made in government — it is about how societies organize themselves to solve problems.
Most people encounter policy indirectly — through news headlines, reports, or the occasional public debate. But the most meaningful conversations about governance often happen in smaller rooms: community meetups, workshops, classrooms, and everyday discussions between curious people trying to understand how systems work.
This week’s edition brings together one such upcoming Policy Circle in Chennai, a leadership opportunity for those looking to deepen their engagement with policy, and a new episode from our Policy Panchayat podcast exploring the work of sexual health educators in India.
As always, you will also find a set of resources and opportunities at the end of the newsletter.
Let’s get into it.
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!
🏙️ Community Highlight: PPI in Chennai
Free, in-person workshop on building careers in the development and policy space in Chennai :)))
If you’ve ever wondered how intentions turn into real impact in the development sector — this one’s for you.
We’re bringing PPI Policy Circle to Chennai for an evening where we unpack what careers in development management actually look like — the work, the decisions, the challenges + the opportunities.
Think of it as a space where curiosity meets conversation.
📅 Sunday, 22nd March 2026
⏰ 5:00 – 7:00 PM
📍 Backyard, Gandhi Nagar, Chennai
Free entry + coffee’s on us ☕
📍 Keep an eye on your chapter’s WhatsApp group for more such meet-ups
Not in a chapter yet? Find and join your city chapter here →
🎓 Thinking About Structured Learning in Policy?
Policy Circles are a great starting point — but if you’re ready to go deeper, the Master’s Programme in Public Policy (MPP) at the Kautilya School of Public Policy is currently accepting applications.
This two-year residential programme focuses on understanding how policies are designed, implemented, and shaped by political and institutional realities.
KSPP offers scholarships for eligible candidates, and applicants applying through PPI may be considered for fee waivers depending on the school’s evaluation, including academics, interview performance, and financial background.
📌 If you apply via PPI, be sure to mention us as your reference to be considered for the waiver.
🌏 Policy Pioneers Program — Call for Applications
The Policy Pioneers Program is a 16-week hybrid leadership program in public policy designed for students and early- to mid-career professionals interested in engaging with governance and public systems.
The program focuses on practical exposure, including:
• Networking with senior practitioners
• Live policy projects
• Specialisations in Trade, Technology, and Public Systems & Governance
The program is run in collaboration with:
• Public Systems Lab (IIT Delhi)
• The Pranava Institute
• Pahle India Foundation
Selections are on a rolling basis.
Already 1000+ people have signed up.
🎙️ Podcast of the Week
In this episode of #PolicyPanchayat, Yash Agarwal from PPI speaks with Ms. Niyati Sharma, the founder of Pratisandhi Foundation and a leading sexuality education advocate.
Ms. Sharma shares her journey of building Pratisandhi into a platform for sexual and reproductive health education and discusses the challenges of expanding conversations around sexuality, consent, and health in India.
The conversation also explores how civil society organisations navigate policy spaces while working on sensitive but essential public health issues.
🔎 Databases and Guides:
Discover your ultimate career resource sheets for everything related to public policy! Our comprehensive mega-lists include 150+ hiring organisations, 200+ scholarships, and 150+ courses, podcasts and a lot more. Dive in and unlock your next big opportunity!
🌟 Avenues for Upskilling
Public Policy Puzzle
Public Policy Puzzle (PPP) is a platform on a mission to make public policy accessible, engaging, and useful for students, young professionals, and curious citizens. Through courses, resources, and interactive formats.
🌍Climate + Health Corner
In Partnership With Swasti, The Health Catalyst
Hydropower’s Role in the Clean Energy Transition
As countries expand solar and wind energy, hydropower is gaining attention as a key stabilizer for renewable-heavy grids. Technologies like pumped-storage hydropower can store energy and release it during peak demand.
But expanding hydropower also raises important policy questions around environmental impact, water governance, and displacement.
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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