Dear reader,
Over the last six years, one question has shown up in our inboxes, community groups, events and conversations more than any other:
“How do I get started in public policy?”
The answer has never been straightforward. Opportunities are scattered, resources are often hidden behind the right networks, and for many people, the policy ecosystem can feel far more inaccessible than it actually is.
So we’ve put together the resources we wish every aspiring policy professional knew about on Day One. Whether you’re exploring policy for the first time, considering a career transition, preparing for higher studies, looking for organisations in your state, or simply trying to understand where you fit into this ecosystem, everything below is designed to make that journey a little easier.
Let’s dive in ;))))
🏛️Start Here
One of the biggest misconceptions about public policy is that it’s a single career path. In reality, people enter and contribute to the sector in very different ways, depending on their interests, skills and motivations. That’s exactly why we built:
Policy Career Navigator, a free tool that helps you explore possible pathways and understand where your interests might align within the policy ecosystem.
🚀The Resource We’d Recommend to Almost Everyone
For years, many people, including members of our own community, assumed that meaningful policy opportunities existed only in a handful of cities.
Building our State-wise Directory of Policy Organisations challenged that assumption completely. From grassroots organisations and research institutions to advocacy groups and implementation-focused organisations, incredible work is happening across the country.
If you’re trying to discover organisations near you, understand regional policy ecosystems, or simply expand your understanding of the sector, this is one of the most useful places to start ;p
💼Looking for Courses, Fellowships, Policy Schools or Organisations?
Over the years, we’ve built and curated FREE databases covering fellowships, policy schools and programmes, learning resources, podcasts, organisations working across sectors, and regional directories from across India for our community.
Instead of spending hours searching through dozens of websites, you can begin with a single repository built specifically for people interested in public policy ;))))
🗳️Learn from Practitioners
Some of the most useful insights about policy don’t come from textbooks; they come from listening to people doing the work.
Through Policy Panchayats, we’ve hosted conversations with policymakers, researchers, founders, bureaucrats and practitioners working across sectors.
An attempt at answering some of the most common questions about public policy and building careers in this space!!!!!!
Looking for more direct guidance? Founder Hours are designed for exactly that.
📅Read, Explore, Understand
Public policy is ultimately about people, places and systems. If you’d like to go deeper, explore The Many Indias, a collection of stories and perspectives from across the country, or browse our collection of research reports and e-books covering governance, policy and public affairs.
We've also researched and curated a library of free e-books, policy resources and reports, including the first edition of the State of Policy India Report, to help you better understand the ideas, institutions and trends shaping the sector.
Find Your Community
Careers are built through opportunities, but they’re sustained through communities.
Over the years, thousands of students, professionals, researchers and practitioners have joined PPI City Chapters to discover opportunities, exchange ideas and meet others navigating similar journeys. If you’re looking to stay connected to the ecosystem, this is one of the easiest ways to begin.
You can also explore initiatives such as Policy Circles, Showcase, Spotlight, Pathfinders, and PPI Executive, all designed to help members of the community learn, connect and grow in different ways.
💼Looking For Jobs, Fellowships & Internships?
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!
💜Before You Go
If this edition resonates with you, send it to one person who is curious about public policy. Someone looking for their first opportunity. Someone considering a career transition.
Someone who keeps saying, “I’d love to work in policy, but I don’t know where to start.”
There’s a good chance they’ll find something useful here :)))))
See you next Friday.
Team Public Policy India💜