Electrification of India + The Accelerating India Fellowship!
Policy Post #164
Dear Reader, Trust you're well! This week, we delve into India's electrification journey, tracing its progress from the 19th century to its current challenges with rural power access. In our Policy Charcha section, we focus on the impressive success of India's smartphone PLI scheme, which has generated substantial revenue and job opportunities, despite some local struggles.
Our Climate + Health Corner highlights the alarming air pollution in Delhi, which is now considered a greater public health threat than Covid-19, and the significant gender disparities in the health of India's older population. We also have a video exploring the urban challenges faced by cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi, and how Chandigarh and Indore have managed to overcome some of these hurdles.
As always, explore our curated resources and career opportunities, and thank you for being part of our community!
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With that, we bring to you: Policy Post #164!
This Week’s Policy Focus 🔎
India's electrification journey began in the 19th century, achieving a national grid by 2013. By 2018, the government claimed 100% electrification, yet many rural households still face unreliable power. While coal dominates energy production, renewables are steadily rising, and India has been a net electricity exporter since 2016. In 1983, most rural households relied on kerosene, but by 2021, nearly 99% of households used electricity. Urban electrification rose from 83% in 1993 to 99% in 2021, and rural rates increased from 39% to 95%. However, 25% of the poorest rural households still lack access, highlighting urban-rural disparities.
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:
India's smartphone PLI scheme has generated ₹1.10 lakh crore in revenue for the government over four years, yielding 19x its investment. With exports surging and 900,000 jobs created, the scheme's success is largely driven by global manufacturers like Apple and Samsung, though some local firms have struggled to meet targets.
📚Fellowship Highlight:
Applications are open for the Accelerating India Book Fellowship by PPGF, a year-long program supporting young thought leaders in crafting transformative book-length works. Fellows will explore critical themes like culture, society, technology, economy, and politics, with access to mentorship, workshops, and resources to shape impactful narratives for India’s future.
🔎 Databases and Guides:
Discover your ultimate career resource sheets for everything related to public policy! Our comprehensive mega-lists include over 150 organisations that are always on the lookout for talent, 200+ scholarships for Indian students, and 150+ public policy courses. Dive in and unlock incredible opportunities!
Climate + Health Corner
In Partnership With Swasti, The Health Catalyst
👉🏽 Delhi's Toxic Air Threatens Public Health More Than Covid-19
Delhi's air quality has reached hazardous levels, with pollution 35 times over WHO's safe limit, causing severe health issues. Authorities have imposed strict curbs, including banning construction and urging residents to stay indoors. Experts warn the toxic air poses a greater public health threat than Covid-19.
👉🏽 Gender Gaps in Health Among India's Older Population
A recent study on India's older population reveals significant gender disparities, with older women facing higher rates of chronic conditions, functional limitations, and women-specific health issues. These disparities are linked to lifetime gender inequalities, highlighting the need for targeted national and state policies to improve older women's health.
▶️Video Highlight:
👉🏽 This video explores the challenges faced by Indian cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi, from traffic issues to flooding, and examines why these cities struggle. It also highlights successful urban planning in Chandigarh and the transformation of Indore. Learn about the complexities of city development, government initiatives, and how we can contribute to creating better cities.
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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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