Dear Reader, Hope you're doing well! This week in Policy Charcha, we dive into how India’s economic slowdown is being shaped by high taxation, restrictive tariffs, and an entrenched policy elite—raising key questions about who really drives economic decisions.
We also spotlight a must-know resource: the Parliament Digital Library, a treasure trove of legislative history, debates, and reports from 1854 to today.
For our video highlight, we break down the Indian Rupee’s record low—is it a crisis or just business as usual? And in community updates, our PPI Bangalore meetup featured Dr. Rathin Roy, who shared deep insights on economic policymaking and what young professionals in the space should prepare for.
Do consider supporting PPI by buying us a coffee ☕ (or two!) if you’ve found our work to be valuable :)
With that, we bring to you: Policy Post #173!
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 economic slowdown isn’t just about global trends, it’s fuelled by excessive taxation, high tariffs, and policy decisions shaped by an entrenched "Deep State" of bureaucrats and industrialists. With personal income tax rates outpacing comparable economies and foreign investment tightening, growth is stalling. Is it time to rethink who really makes policy in India?
📚 Resource Highlight:
The Parliament Digital Library offers access to Lok Sabha debates from the First to the Eighteenth Lok Sabha, committee reports, budget speeches, and historic legislative debates from 1854-1952. With a single-window search, it’s a goldmine for parliamentary history—check it out!
🔎 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!
▶️Video Highlight:
👉🏽 The Indian Rupee has hit a record low of 86/USD, but is this really a crisis? This video breaks down why a 3.5% annual depreciation is a predictable trend, not a disaster. From the 1991 devaluation to today, see how global markets and economic reforms have shaped the Rupee.
👥 Community Updates:
Our PPI Bangalore 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 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.
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.
The aim is to organise regular in-person meet-ups, workshops, and career activities throughout the year to support your growth and learning. Most knowledge in public policy and social impact resides with individuals, not institutions, and knowledge transfer happens most effectively when we meet and exchange ideas. Join us and help spread the word so we can grow this space together in your city and across India. :)
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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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