India Hits 50% Clean Energy + Free Data Science Summer School by Hertie
Policy Post #194
Dear Reader,
We’re back with a fresh edition of Policy Charcha, and this one’s packed with the kind of stories that make you pause and think about where India’s headed. First up: India has quietly crossed a historic milestone, 50% of our installed electricity capacity now comes from clean energy. It’s a huge shift, and it happened five years ahead of schedule.
We also spotlight a bold essay on why opening up foreign procurement could quietly transform governance and a video on what’s really broken in India’s social infrastructure and what it’ll take to fix them.
Do not miss the opportunity for a free global summer school with Hertie Data Science Lab that teaches you how to use AI and data science for real-world public impact (with zero cost and a certificate!)
As always, thank you for reading and championing better policy.
With that, we bring to you: Policy Post #194!
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!
💡 Essay Highlight:
Improved government buying- Ajay Shah and Susan Thomas
India’s public procurement system is deeply protectionist—and it’s costing us. In this sharp, piece, economist Ajay Shah argues that allowing government agencies to buy from global markets isn’t just about getting better prices—it’s about unlocking efficiency, speed, and innovation in everything from defense to public health. With examples from other countries and a breakdown of legal hurdles, this essay makes a bold case: if we want world-class outcomes, we can’t limit ourselves to local inputs. A must-read for anyone tracking state capacity and reform.
📚 Article Highlight:
India Hits 50% Clean Power—Five Years Ahead!
India has just crossed a major milestone: 50% of its installed electricity capacity now comes from non‑fossil sources, achieving this landmark five years ahead of the 2030 Paris Agreement target. This surge, driven by an unprecedented addition of solar and wind capacity, signals a powerful shift in the country’s energy trajectory
But here’s the catch: coal still powers most of the actual electricity produced, and the grid lacks enough storage to fully leverage renewables. If we’re serious about climate goals, it’s the moment to double down on energy storage, integration, and clean tech investments.
💡 Opportunity Highlight:
Free Summer School by Hertie School Data Science Lab
If you’ve been meaning to level up your policy + data game, this one’s for you.
The Hertie School’s free online Summer School (Aug 4–8) covers everything from Python, R, and AI agents to statistics and experimental design—all through the lens of public policy. You’ll get a certificate, connect with a global peer group, and build real-world skills that matter. All free of cost!
Perfect for beginners and professionals looking to upskill.
📊 Database Highlight:
Explore our revamped Policy Schools Database! Now covering policy schools and policy/development programs in 20+ countries worldwide. Check it out!
🔎 Databases and Guides:
Discover your ultimate career resource sheets for everything related to public policy! Our comprehensive mega-lists include150+ hiring organisations, 200+ scholarships, and 150+ courses. Dive in and unlock your next big opportunity!
▶️Video Highlight:
Is India’s Social Infrastructure Broken?
In this eye-opening episode of SparX by Mukesh Bansal, economist Karthik Muralidharan takes a critical look at India’s health, education, and job systems. He asks tough questions: Why are schools failing? How widespread are unethical practices in healthcare? And what’s really driving—or holding back—youth employment? It’s an honest, data-driven diagnosis of the sectors that touch every Indian life.
Climate + Health Corner
In Partnership With Swasti, The Health Catalyst
👉🏽 Only 28 Studies in 6 Years? India’s Climate Adaptation Blind Spot
India has published nearly 400 climate-related papers since 2017—but just 28 have actually evaluated how well adaptation efforts work. That’s less than 7%. Even worse? Most focus only on agriculture, while critical sectors like urban flooding, forests, coasts, and gender remain shockingly under-researched. With extreme weather intensifying, this massive research gap could cost India dearly.
👥 Community Updates:
All our communities are free to join, open to everyone and are continuously growing and evolving to maximise the opportunities and awareness about policy and careers in this broader space that we can create in cities across India’s 20 most vibrant cities.
Join our absolutely free pan-India communities on WhatsApp and be a part of the next in-person meet-up!
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!
