Kolkata Policy Circle, Careers in Policy & India’s Demographic Reality
Policy Post #230
Dear Reader,
There’s a difference between knowing about policy and actually sitting with the questions it raises.
This week’s newsletter sits right at that intersection — from a Policy Circle in Kolkata that looks at cities through arts and culture, to a closer look at India’s demographic window and what it really demands from policy today.
Also in here: a video that unpacks how policy thinking plays out beyond textbooks, and a climate transition story that’s as much about equity and health as it is about energy. And as always you will find a list of opportunities at the end.
Let’s get into it.
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!
🏙️ PPI Policy Circle: Kolkata
In collaboration with Anant National University, this is a free, in-person careers workshop + panel discussion on a slightly different way of thinking about cities.
We have with us Dr. Jenia Mukherjee — urban water researcher at IIT Kharagpur and Coordinator at the Global Centre of Spatial Methods for Urban Sustainability, TU Berlin — someone who approaches cities in ways that stay with you long after the conversation ends.
Come for the workshop, stay for the conversation, leave with people you actually want to stay in touch with ☕
🟣 Free entry + careers workshop
🟣 Networking ice breaker
🟣 Panel: Arts, Crafts and Cities — why the humanities matter in urban policy
📅 Saturday, 18th April
⏰ 6:00 – 8:00 PM
📍 Collab Deck, Russel Street, Park Street area, Kolkata
More cities, more conversations, and more Policy Circles coming up soon.
📍 Keep an eye on your chapter’s WhatsApp group.
Not in a chapter yet? Find and join your city chapter here →
🎓 Thinking About Structured Learning in Policy?
Policy Circles are a great starting point — but if you’re ready to go deeper, the Master’s Programme in Public Policy (MPP) at the Kautilya School of Public Policy is currently accepting applications.
This two-year residential programme focuses on understanding how policies are designed, implemented, and shaped by political and institutional realities.
KSPP offers scholarships for eligible candidates, and applicants applying through PPI may be considered for fee waivers depending on the school’s evaluation, including academics, interview performance, and financial background.
📌 If you apply via PPI, be sure to mention us as your reference to be considered for the waiver.
🎥 Video of the Week
How policy thinking actually plays out
A useful watch if you’ve ever wondered how policy decisions move from theory to practice — and what gets lost (or negotiated) along the way.
📝 Essay of the Week
India’s demographic dividend — opportunity or ticking clock?
India’s much-discussed demographic dividend isn’t automatic — it depends on whether jobs, skills, and policy can keep pace with a rapidly shifting population.
This piece breaks down what’s at stake, and why the window may be narrower than we think.
🔎 Databases and Guides:
Discover your ultimate career resource sheets for everything related to public policy! Our comprehensive mega-lists include 150+ hiring organisations, 200+ scholarships, and 150+ courses, podcasts and a lot more. Dive in and unlock your next big opportunity!
🌟 Avenues for Upskilling
Public Policy Puzzle
Public Policy Puzzle (PPP) is a platform on a mission to make public policy accessible, engaging, and useful for students, young professionals, and curious citizens. Through courses, resources, and interactive formats.
🌍Climate + Health Corner
In Partnership With Swasti, The Health Catalyst
India’s green transition — fast, but uneven
India is electrifying faster than many expected, driven by cheaper renewable technologies and policy push. But transitions like these are never just about speed — they’re about who benefits, who gets left out, and how systems adapt.
What’s interesting here is not just the scale of change, but the trade-offs: grid stability, affordability, and access — all of which directly shape health outcomes, especially for vulnerable communities.
A useful read if you’re thinking about climate not just as environment, but as infrastructure, equity, and public health.
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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