India's Budget 2025 + Earth's 1.5°C Breach
Policy Post #176
Dear Reader, Hope you're doing well! This week in Policy Charcha, we take a closer look at India’s latest budget—while it sticks to fiscal discipline, boosting credibility, it also leaves limited space for central spending. With urban investment and strategic growth now at the forefront, could privatisation and smarter public asset use be the next big moves?
In our Climate + Health Corner, we break down why 1.5°C matters. Temporary breaches of this threshold don’t mean we’ve failed, but they serve as a stark warning: the closer we inch toward long-term warming beyond 1.5°C, the more we risk extreme weather, rising sea levels, and devastating ecosystem disruptions. Are we doing enough to prevent lasting damage?
For our video highlight, we uncover the dark reality behind Delhi’s waste-to-energy plants. Marketed as a “green” solution, these plants are actually poisoning the air, with alarming levels of toxic metals affecting public health. A five-year investigation reveals the shocking truth—watch to find out more.
Meanwhile, our PPI Mumbai community recently hosted an insightful session with Dr. Rathin Roy, former Director and CEO of NIPFP and Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister. He shared his experiences in policy and governance, offering valuable advice for young professionals in the field!
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With that, we bring to you: Policy Post #176!
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 latest budget sticks to fiscal discipline, boosting credibility while creating room for future flexibility. With limited avenues for central spending, the government now faces the challenge of driving urban investment and strategic growth. Could privatisation and smarter public asset use be the next big moves?
📚Resource Highlight
Check out the findings from the Economic Survey 2024-25, which highlights India's post-pandemic recovery, fiscal discipline, and the need for strategic investments in urban infrastructure and key sectors.
👥 In case you missed it
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▶️Video Highlight:
👉🏽 Delhi’s waste-to-energy plants are poisoning the air. Residents report severe health issues, rising pollution, and shocking levels of toxic metals. A five-year investigation reveals dangerous contamination near the Timarpur-Okhla plant, linked to lung damage and miscarriages. How is this "green" solution harming public health? Watch to uncover the truth!
Climate + Health Corner
In Partnership With Swasti, The Health Catalyst
👉🏽 Why 1.5°C Matters: A Critical Limit for Our Planet
Every fraction of a degree of warming matters, and 1.5°C is a crucial limit that could determine the future of our planet. While temporary breaches of this threshold don’t mean we’ve failed to meet the Paris Agreement goals, they signal that we are edging dangerously close to irreversible climate consequences.
Scientists warn that limiting global warming to 1.5°C rather than 2°C could significantly reduce extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and ecosystem disruptions. With recent years recording the highest temperatures on record, and the first 12-month period surpassing 1.5°C already observed, the urgency to act has never been greater. Are we doing enough to prevent a long-term breach of this critical threshold?
👥 Community Updates:
Our PPI Mumbai community, in partnership with Kautilya School of Public Policy, recently came together for an engaging evening! We were joined by Dr. Rathin Roy, former Director and CEO of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) and Economic Adviser with the Thirteenth Finance Commission. He has also formerly served as an Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister. He shared his insights from his journey in policy and what young people in the space can expect!
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.
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