The States in Parliament Report + PPI's Ahmedabad Meet-up!
Policy Post #186
Dear Reader,
This week’s Policy Charcha is a journey through stories of grassroots innovation, structural reforms, and powerful policy conversations. Whether you’re looking for career gold, critical analysis, or a meaningful event to attend, we’ve got you covered.
In our Quick Read, meet Indu Devi from Bihar whose solar-powered irrigation pump didn’t just water fields — it rewrote her future. As more women across the state adopt clean energy solutions, this story is a window into rural resilience and climate-smart farming.
Our Resource Highlight features a must-read report by Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy that unpacks the looming delimitation debate. As the 2026 deadline approaches, it raises tough but necessary questions about federalism, fairness, and representation in India’s democracy.
In this week’s Video Highlight, dive into Shekhar Gupta’s explainer on the ₹11,000 crore funds transfer mechanism reform. It’s not just about money saved — it’s about how states are struggling with implementation, and what it means for India’s most crucial schemes.
Our Climate + Health Corner (in partnership with Swasti) explores May’s wild weather. From Delhi’s wettest May in 120+ years to floods in Latur, 2025’s pre-monsoon surprises come with both relief and risk.
And finally, for our Community Updates — we’re thrilled to announce a policy meet-up in Ahmedabad in partnership with the Anant Fellowship. Join us as we rethink cities, futures, and everything in between!
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 #186!
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!
💡 Quick Read:
Widowed and burdened with debt, Indu Devi from Bihar turned her life around with a solar-powered irrigation pump, now supplying water to nearby farms and earning a steady income. Her story is part of a larger shift, as women across Bihar adopt solar irrigation to transform their livelihoods. With lower costs and easy use, these pumps are empowering small farmers like never before. Curious how a simple switch is changing lives?
📚 Resource Highlight:
This report by the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy examines the long-delayed but critical issue of delimitation in India, specifically, how Lok Sabha seats are allocated among states. It highlights the growing imbalance in political representation due to population shifts and the freeze on seat redistribution since 1971. As 2026 approaches, the report urges a reckoning with the trade-off between political equality and the federal structure of India.
🔎 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 central government saved ₹11,000 crore through a new funds transfer mechanism reform, but key schemes like rural housing and Swachh Bharat are suffering as states fail to use allocated funds. In this episode, Shekhar Gupta explains how this happened, what SNA (Single Nodal Agency) means, and why India’s growing debt makes this a bigger issue than it seems.
Climate + Health Corner
In Partnership With Swasti, The Health Catalyst
👉🏽 Why May 2025 Feels More Like Monsoon Than Summer
May 2025 has flipped the script on India’s scorching summer. Instead of heatwaves, large parts of the country have seen record rainfall, intense thunderstorms, and even localised floods; all due to early monsoon winds and a surge in western disturbances. Delhi recorded its wettest May since 1901, while drought-prone Latur saw a shocking 2,000% rainfall surplus. But this unusual weather isn't all good news, crops across multiple states are damaged, and farmers are counting their losses. What’s driving this dramatic weather shift?
👥 Community Updates:
Public Policy India (PPI), in partnership with Anant Fellowship, is excited to host our in-person policy community meet-up and workshop engagement in Ahmedabad! Join us on Friday, 6th June, for an engaging discussion on Cities of Tomorrow: Rewriting Our Future Through Policy.
We’re delighted to be joined by two amazing speakers;
Prof. Snehal Nagarsheth, Dean at Anant National University’s School of Architecture with over 25 years of experience in academia and practice. Her work explores the intersection of water, everyday life, and modern Indian architecture. A CEPT alumna, she has studied under stalwarts like BV Doshi and conducted urban research in Madrid.
Mr. Harpal Dave is the Additional Chief Town Planner with the Government of Gujarat, bringing over 13 years of experience in urban planning and development.
How to join? Simply join the PPI Ahmedabad City Chapter. More details on the same will be shared on the City Chapter!
Considering a Masters in Public Policy?
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.
PS: 10 applicants who apply and secure an admit in the 2-year full-time MPP at Kautilya School of Public Policy through PPI’s link below - get a up to a 100% scholarship depending on your candidature!
Just mention Public Policy India (PPI) as the reference in your application process. Good luck!
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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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