THE CONTEXT: India faces complex developmental challenges that demand innovative public policy solutions. Despite having numerous public policy schools, India lacks a globally recognized institution like the Harvard Kennedy School or the London School of Economics. This gap is not due to a lack of institutions but rather stems from structural issues within India’s political and institutional landscape.
THE BACKGROUND: India has seen a significant rise in public policy education over the last decade, with over 130 institutions offering courses in this field. However, these schools have limited influence on actual policymaking. The disconnect between academic training and real-world application is stark, as graduates struggle to find roles that leverage their expertise within the Indian governance framework. Unlike countries like the U.S., where public policy graduates often find positions in federal or state agencies, India lacks dedicated recruitment routes for such professionals.
THE ISSUES:
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- Centralization of Power: In India, decision-making is highly centralized within the executive branch. The political elite and bureaucrats hold most of the decision-making power, with limited legislative oversight. This contrasts sharply with countries like the U.S., where Congress is active in crafting legislation independent of the executive. The decentralized nature of U.S. governance creates multiple entry points for policy experts to influence lawmaking through analysis and debate.
- Political Dynamics and Instability: The influence of public policy experts in India is closely tied to the political leadership in power. When regimes change, those previously involved in decision-making may be sidelined. This instability prevents the development of a stable ecosystem where policy experts can maintain influence regardless of political shifts. In contrast, more institutionalized democracies ensure that think tanks and civil society groups retain relevance across different administrations.
- Weak Formalization of State Institutions: India’s informal power structures further complicate matters. Policy discourse is often relegated to a secondary role because politics and policy are not deeply integrated within the political platform. As a result, policy professionals lack top-tier influence compared to their counterparts in other democracies.
- Limited Access Points for Policy Influence: In countries like the U.S., each legislator provides an entry point for policy experts to contribute to decision-making processes. However, in India’s centralized system, access points are limited. Due to executive dominance, public representatives have less autonomy to engage with external expertise.
- Volatility in Policy Influence: The extreme realignment of public life when regimes change creates fragility in India’s policy ecosystem. Think tanks and civil society organizations lose influence when not aligned with the new ruling party’s agenda. This volatility undermines long-term policy planning and reduces opportunities for sustained collaboration between academia and government.
THE WAY FORWARD:
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- Tailored Curriculum: Teach students how to navigate informal networks, caste hierarchies, regional elites, and grassroots movements—elements that play a significant role in Indian governance. For example, simulations and case studies could be pedagogical tools that allow students to engage with real-life scenarios in a controlled environment. Field trips and internships should be integral parts of the curriculum to provide hands-on experience with how policies are implemented on the ground.
- Emphasis on Practical Skills: A successful Indian public policy school must balance theoretical knowledge with practical skills such as data analysis, program evaluation, and understanding local governance dynamics. Training should also include exposure to India’s socio-economic challenges—such as poverty alleviation, health crises, and environmental sustainability—to prepare graduates for leadership roles within government agencies or NGOs.
- Cultivation of Empathy: One critical aspect often overlooked in Indian policymaking is empathy for citizens’ lived realities. Top-down policies can sometimes worsen local conditions if they fail to account for ground-level complexities. A world-class institution must cultivate empathy among its students by emphasizing community engagement and participatory policymaking.
- Creating a Stable Policy Ecosystem: To reduce dependence on political proximity for legitimacy and influence, India needs a nonpartisan space where public interventions are evaluated based on quality rather than alignment with political power. Such an institution would foster collaboration across sectors—politics, bureaucracy, and civil society—and maintain relevance irrespective of regime changes.
- Cross-Sector Partnerships: Building partnerships across academia, government agencies, think tanks, media outlets, and civil society organizations can help create a more stable ecosystem for policy input. These collaborations would provide depth and opportunities for sustained influence across different administrations.
THE CONCLUSION:
India has immense potential to develop a world-class public policy institution that addresses its unique challenges while contributing to global governance debates. Focusing on local realities—such as informal power structures and socio-economic diversity—a top-tier institution could emerge as a leader within India and among developing nations worldwide.
UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTION:
Q. “Effectiveness of the government system at various levels and people’s participation in the governance system are interdependent.” Discuss their relationship with each other in the context of India. 2016
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:
Q. Discuss how the informal power structures and political dynamics in India affect the stability and effectiveness of public policy institutions.
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