PPI is in Lucknow, signs its first MoU, and 100% scholarship @ KSPP
Policy Post #222
Dear Reader,
Here’s something nobody tells you when you’re starting out in the policy space: there’s no single path in.
Some people come through law. Others through economics, data, journalism, development work. Some build careers in government, others in think tanks or consulting. And some of the most interesting people in this space took routes that didn’t exist five years ago.
That’s partly what this week’s edition is about—routes. New ones we’re building, ones our community is exploring, and one that GenAI might be redrawing entirely.
As always, we’ve got databases, resources, and opportunities to help you find your next move.
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!
☕ The Policy Circle is Coming to Lucknow — Feb 21
We’ve been taking The Policy Circle to more cities, and this time we’re heading to Lucknow.
PPI is partnering with the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) to bring you a session we honestly wish existed when we were figuring things out ourselves.
From Intention to Impact: Exploring a Career in Development Management
Because let’s be real—most of us grew up hearing “do something meaningful” but nobody sat us down and said here’s how you actually build a career in social impact without burning out, getting underpaid, or feeling lost.
Development Management sits at an interesting intersection: public policy, business strategy, social impact, and grassroots action. Development managers work with governments, nonprofits, social enterprises, CSR teams, and international organisations to design, implement, and scale solutions across education, healthcare, livelihoods, climate action, financial inclusion, and more. It’s not just about passion—it’s about strategy, leadership, data, operations, and sustainable impact.
🎤 Speakers: Sanjana Kaushik and Madhumita Mukherjee, ISDM
Whether you’re a student exploring options, a young professional wondering if the social sector is really for you, or someone already in it trying to figure out the next step—this one’s for you.
✅ Completely free to attend ✅ One-of-a-kind session ☕ And yes, coffee’s on us
📅 21st February | 5:00–7:00 PM 📍 Lucknow
If you’ve been thinking about structured learning in development management...
ISDM’s programmes are designed for people who want to move from intent to impact—combining policy thinking with management practice to build careers that actually work in the social sector. Their admissions are currently open, and those applying through PPI may be eligible for special consideration.
📌 If you apply via PPI, be sure to mention us as your reference for scholarships
🎉 Community Highlight: A Week of Firsts
Last week was a big one for us, and we want to share it with you—because honestly, none of this happens without this community.
PPI Signs Its First-Ever MoU — with RV University, Bengaluru
Five years ago, PPI started as a small community of people who cared about policy. This week, we signed our first-ever formal Memorandum of Understanding with RV University—an 8-decade-old institution in Bengaluru.
The partnership focuses on supporting RV University’s students in the years ahead with capacity building, training, and careers support in the policy and governance space.
For a community-driven platform that’s just five years old, this feels like a milestone worth pausing on. We’ve more than doubled our work, partnerships, and reach in just the past six months—and this MoU is a signal of what’s ahead.
More updates on this partnership soon. We’re just getting started.
Community Highlight
Our Bengaluru Policy Circle with Dr. Amrendra Pandey from Kautilya School of Public Policy (KSPP) brought together a room full of curious, sharp minds who wanted to understand one thing: how are public policy decisions actually made?
If you missed this one, don’t worry. The Policy Circle is heading to India’s 20 largest cities in the coming few months, and we’ll keep bringing in practitioners who can walk you through what the process actually looks like from the inside.
If you’ve been thinking about structured learning in policy...
The Master’s Programme in Public Policy (MPP) at Kautilya School of Public Policy is now accepting applications for 2025. This 2-year, full-time, residential programme is designed to help you understand not just what policies say, but how they get made, implemented, and shaped by the world around them.
KSPP offers generous scholarships for eligible candidates, and those applying through PPI may qualify for a 100% fee waiver, depending on the school’s evaluation.
📌 If you apply via PPI, be sure to mention us as your reference to be considered for the waiver.
#PPPTalks | GenAI, Tech Policy and the Future of Public Policy Careers in India
Join Yash Agarwal in an online masterclass on “GenAI, Tech Policy and the Future of Public Policy Careers in India” on Feb 21, 11 AM - 2 PM.
What you’ll walk away with:
The Automate-Augment-Elevate framework for GenAI in policy work
India’s AI governance approach & IndiaAI Mission
Career pathways & your own 12-18 month GenAI policy roadmap
If you’ve been wondering how AI is changing the nature of policy work—or where you fit into that shift—this is the conversation to be part of.
🔎 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
🎬 Watch: Against the Tide
Rising seas, more floods, longer droughts — and the question every sector will eventually face: what happens when the environment shifts faster than institutions can respond?
This episode tracks how the Netherlands is building climate-resilient infrastructure while communities in Bangladesh, Wales, and Florida struggle without it. Sharp, grounded, and relevant well beyond climate policy.
Watch it here →
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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