Why Bengaluru is always under construction+ SPG’s Certificate Course in Public Policy
Policy Post #198
Dear Reader,
Indian cities often feel like they’re in a perpetual state of “work in progress.” In this newsletter, we unpack it all- from BBMP’s flyover obsession, to India’s silent data revolution, to the sobering truth that children are carrying the heaviest climate burdens.
This week we have a video highlight which breaks down the absurdity of Bengaluru’s plan for 200 km of flyovers, a powerful essay which spotlights India’s underappreciated data transformation- MoSPI isn’t merely collecting statistics, it’s embracing speed, diversity, AI, and design thinking and a report on how it’s the children who bear the heaviest costs of our climate inaction.
Meanwhile, for those eager to dive deeper into the policy space, SPG’s (School of Policy and Governance) upcoming 4- week Certificate Course in Public Policy is now open. A golden chance to build your basics, and we have a special offer for the PPI community!
Let’s dive in.
As always, thank you for reading and championing better policy.
With that, we bring to you: Policy Post #198!
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!
💡 Essay Highlight:
India’s silent data revolution will arm policymaking with evidence
A new piece from LiveMint shines a spotlight on a quiet but profound shift in India's statistical architecture. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is racing against delays, launching a dedicated data-analysis division, and even infusing surveys with AI and chatbots. The ambition? Transform raw numbers into real-time policy levers. If you believe that better data can lead to better governance, this essay is for you.
💡 Opportunity highlight
4-week online Certificate Course in Public Policy by SPG (School of Policy and Governance)
Looking to build a strong foundation in public policy and understand the forces shaping India’s governance landscape? The School of Policy and Governance (SPG) is offering a Certificate Course in Public Policy designed to help you engage critically with the ideas, institutions, and innovations driving change. Covering both foundational concepts and emerging trends, it’s a fantastic way to sharpen your lens and level up your policy game.
Currently there is a ₹5,000 discount (early bird offer valid till September 30th, 2025)
👉🏽 Exclusively for the PPI community, with a special coupon code:
Exclusive additional ₹5,000 discount for PPI community : Use code CCPPPI to avail!
🔎 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!
▶️Video Highlight:
The never ending construction of Bengaluru
Why does India’s “Silicon Valley” feel permanently under construction? Because it doesn’t have a functioning local government. Now the BBMP, instead of strengthening urban governance, is proposing 200 km of flyovers at a mind-bending cost upto ₹1.6 lakh crore. This video explains what’s going on, and why this obsession with concrete misses the real problems of India’s cities.
🌍Climate + Health Corner
In Partnership With Swasti, The Health Catalyst
👉🏽 Children face a disproportionate burden of environmental risks
A new report shows how India’s children are disproportionately vulnerable to climate-linked health risks, from toxic air and contaminated water to worsening malnutrition and infectious diseases. In India, 116,000 children died in their first month of life in 2019 due to health effects associated with air pollution exposure. The climate crisis isn’t just a future worry, it’s today’s public health emergency, already shaping childhoods and futures.
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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