Goa Arts + Literary Festival 2014 (goaartlitfest.com) in partnership with the pioneering, independent think tank Takshashila Institution (takshashila.org.in) will present exclusive panel discussions on public policy on December 7 within the GALF programme schedule. For anyone with an interest in public policy including working professionals, practitioners, journalists, students and active citizens, this is a rare opportunity to meet, interact with and learn from leaders in the field.
Panel 1: How to become a policy wonk? Sarah Farooqui (editor of Pragati), Sachin Kalbag (editor, Mid-Day), Pavan Srinath (head of policy research at Takshashila), M R Madhavan (CEO, PRS Legislative Research), Anshul Gupta (IPS Officer from Uttar Pradesh), *To Be Confirmed Contemporary India faces multiple challenges and no single approach can tackle them fully. Neither is any single academic or professional background sufficient. Public Policy finds its fundamentals in economic reasoning, politics and analysis, but a practitioner in the field of public policy uses skills that are derived from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. How does one become a policy wonk in contemporary India? And more significantly, how does one utilise a particular background towards solving public challenges in India? This panel of public policy practitioners from different professional backgrounds will explore how multiple disciplines – including the sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences – can each contribute to one becoming a policy wonk in India. Panel 2 - Can our politics do good policy? Nitin Pai (Director & Co-Founder of Takshashila Institution) Ajit Ranade (Chief Economist, Aditya Birla Group) Narayan Ramachandran (Chairman, Inklude Labs) Pratap Bhanu Mehta (President, Centre for Policy Research) *TBC US Consul General *TBC India is undergoing a political transformation with a new generation of Indians becoming active in public affairs. The nation has seen multiple political movements competing for people's votes and imaginations. A downward slide into apathy for politics among many sections of Indian society seems to have given way a greater interest in what is happening in the country. The year 2014 also saw a national election that focused on issues rather than identities alone, with growth and development of India being front and centre. This panel will explore whether the politics of India's vibrant democracy can foster good public policies that can develop India and improve the prosperity of its citizens. ---- About the Takshashila Institution The Takshashila Institution is an independent, non-partisan think tank on India’s strategic affairs and public policy, registered in Chennai and with offices in Bangalore. It has pioneered modern public policy education in India through its graduate programme targeted at working professionals in the media, politics, NGOs and the corporate sector. Takshashila conducts policy research in a number of policy domains, supports an active community of bloggers and has been publishing Pragati—The Indian National Interest Review, a monthly magazine on public affairs since April 2007.