Bharti Institute of Public Policy

| Can poverty solutions unlock biodiversity gains?

In the latest research article published in Nature Sustainability article, “Advancing biodiversity through poverty solutions”, Ashwini Chhatre, Executive Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, along with co-authors, brings this question to the forefront. Their research shows that higher poverty levels and dependence on fuelwood are closely associated with declining forest biodiversity, while diversified subsistence practices can support ecological recovery.

The findings underline a powerful message: conservation and livelihoods are deeply interconnected. Addressing poverty and expanding sustainable livelihood pathways are not just social priorities; they are essential strategies for building resilient ecosystems and achieving long-term sustainability goals.

Read the research publication here: https://www.isb.edu/faculty-and-research/bharti-institute-of-public-policy

ISB Bharti Institute of Public Policy Explore ISB's Bharti Institute of Public Policy. Research and education for effective public policy in India.

The Bharti Institute of Public Policy (BIPP), Indian School of Business has partnered with the Government of Uttarakhand through a strategic MoU to accelerate data-driven governance and the vision.

Formalised in Dehradun at the Workshop on Data Harmonization, organised by the Directorate Of Economics And Statistics (DES) and Centre for Public Policy and Good Governance, the MoU was exchanged between Dr. R. Meenakshi Sundaram (Principal Secretary, Planning, Government of Uttarakhand) and Dr. Aarushi Barowalia Jain (Director, BIPP) in the presence of Chief Secretary Shri Anand Bardhan.

The ceremony drew strong central and state presence, with Dr. Saurabh Garg (Secretary, GoIStats MoSPI), Shri Narender Singh Bhandari (Additional Secretary, Planning), Ms. Anna Roy (Principal Economic Advisor, NITI Aayog), Dr Manoj Kumar Pant (Director of SETU Aayog (DES), and Saubhagya S. (Head, Partnerships, BIPP), in attendance.

Chief Secretary Shri Anand Bardhan noted that the collaboration provides vital academic and technical support to break departmental silos, harmonise data, and ensure efficient service delivery.

The operational blueprint was anchored during the workshop's technical sessions. Dr. Aarushi Barowalia Jain participated in a panel discussion on AI-based initiatives and monitoring and evaluation, emphasising that the next frontier of governance relies on using data intelligently to improve implementation and citizen outcomes. Concurrently, Mr. Gursharan Singh Dhanjal (Chief Data Scientist, BIPP), participated in panel discussion on data integration and interoperability across departments, collaborating with cross-sector experts to build the connected systems necessary to position Uttarakhand as a national model for modern public policy.

This alliance establishes Bharti Institute of Public Policy as a core knowledge partner to transition traditional administration into intelligent governance systems. By anchoring public policy in evidence-based research, the joint framework will actively drive targeted action across critical development areas, including climate resilience, the forest economy, rural livelihoods, and public sector innovation.

| The Bharti Institute of Public Policy, through its Initiative on the Forest Economy (IoFE), supported women-owned, forest-based Producer Companies (PCs) in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Malkangiri districts of Odisha to aggregate and market Sal (Shorea robusta) seeds.

Consequently, across 18 collection centres, six PCs collectively sold 37,237.7 kg of Sal seeds.

These outcomes highlight the potential of women-led community enterprises to strengthen market access, mobilise local forest resources, and actively participate in emerging bio-based value chains creating sustainable economic opportunities for forest-dependent communities across India.

As part of the ongoing Academic Leadership Programme (ALP) for senior officials from SCERT and the School Education Department, Government of Goa, the Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, facilitated a high-level learning excursion to Himachal Pradesh from 18–19 June 2026, fostering meaningful cross-state exchange on governance and educational transformation.

The visit commenced with an engaging interaction at the Directorate of School Education, Himachal Pradesh, where the delegation was warmly received by senior officials including Shri Ashish Kohli (Director of School Education, HP), Shri B.R. Sharma (Additional Director), Shri Jivan Singh Negi, Shri Basant Negi, and Shri Jagdish Negi. The ISB and Goa delegation was represented by Dr. Aarushi Jain, Director, BIPP while the Goa delegation was represented by Ms. Meghana Shetgaonkar, Director, SCERT Goa; Smt. Sarita Gadgil, Director (Administration), SCERT Goa; and Shri Manoj Sawalkar, State Project Director, Goa.

The deliberations offered valuable insights into Himachal Pradesh’s journey towards achieving full literacy, highlighting key initiatives such as the Mukhyamantri Bal Poshtik Aahar Yojana, the transition to English-medium instruction, CBSE affiliations, digital attendance systems, and the role of the Vidya Samikshya Kendra in monitoring performance indicators. The exchange also enabled focused dialogue on school rationalisation, strengthening enrolment and retention, and addressing inclusion challenges for migrant learners.

The visit also featured engagements at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies and Rashtrapati Niwas, Mashobra, culminating in a substantive and thought-provoking session at the Dr. Manmohan Singh Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA). Led by Shri Deepak Sanan, IAS (Retd.), and coordinated by Shri Prashant Sirkek, HAS, and Shri Rahul Lamba, HPFAS, the session created a rich space for reflection and dialogue, enabling participants to critically examine comparative education performance indicators such as PGI and PARAKH, while exploring systemic challenges related to curriculum design, pedagogy, assessment practices, and accountability frameworks.

The programme concluded with a certificate distribution ceremony marking the successful completion of the Himachal Pradesh learning excursion, recognising the commitment of participating officials towards strengthening educational leadership and governance.

📢 Workshop Alert

India's food system faces interconnected challenges of nutrition, health, sustainability, climate resilience, livelihoods, and equity. Addressing these challenges requires a new generation of professionals equipped with Food Systems thinking.

The Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business, in partnership with the of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU), Rural India Supporting Trust (RIST), and with support from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is bringing together diverse stakeholders to shape future-ready, scalable learning solutions.

Building on the RIST–Food Futures Programme, this initiative transforms TDU’s Food Systems course into an online resource for wider adoption, while exploring core concepts, innovative pedagogies, and pathways to integrate Food Systems into higher education and capacity-building programmes.

Register now to participate!

📍 TDU Campus, Bengaluru
📅 16 July 2026 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
⏳ Last date to apply: 10 July 2026

🔗 Click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScr02Zf1Njtue5N1B8IqIHnEgLLy_tIWpniTWDLTjCVHhq2aQ/viewform

🌐 For more information, visit: www.tdu.edu.in
📞 For queries: 080 28568000

Join us in shaping a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive food future.

As part of the ongoing Academic Leadership Programme for senior officials from SCERT and the School Education Department, Government of Goa - गोंय सरकार, the Bharti Institute of Public Policy is conducting a series of sessions on AI, Leadership, and Strategy, at the Indian School of Business, Mohali campus from 14–20 June.

The session on Generative AI for Educational Leaders, led by Dr. Aarushi Jain, introduced participants to practical applications of AI in education, responsible AI use, and prompt design using the TICCO framework.

Sessions led by Mr. Vivek Atray focused on purpose-driven leadership, self-mastery, empathy, and the role of emotional intelligence in shaping effective leaders. R Rajeshwar Upadhyay's session on Leadership for the Changing Times encouraged participants to explore learning agility, resilience, and emotional intelligence through case discussions and experiential exercises.

In sessions on Leading Strategy in Disruptive Times and Executing Strategy in Disruptive Times, Prof. Nandu Nandkishore engaged participants in understanding how to navigate disruption, emphasising adaptability, decision-making, and the power of communication and storytelling in driving change.

Together, these sessions reinforced the importance of reflective, adaptive, and future-ready leadership in education systems.

The Mohali leg of the programme concluded with a networking dinner that brought together participants and the Bharti Institute’s team for meaningful conversations, cultural exchange, and deeper connections.

The Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business conducted a workshop on “Generative AI for Educational Leaders” for principals of senior secondary schools in Goa, in collaboration with the Government of Goa - गोंय सरकार, as part of the fourth phase under the Academic Leadership Programme.

Dr. Aarushi Jain, Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, led the session, equipping participants with practical tools like the TIC-CO framework and guiding them through prompt engineering, hallucination checks, and responsible AI use.

Participants actively designed their own “School Leadership Copilots” AI assistants tailored to address real challenges in academic planning, communication, student wellbeing, teacher development, and institutional improvement.

Through hands-on exercises and peer learning, school leaders explored how they can use AI to strengthen decision-making while maintaining the critical role of human judgment, empathy, and context in education.

The second day focused on presentations by participants on visionary school projects, with faculty sharing detailed feedback to support refinement and implementation. The programme concluded with the felicitation of five principals, who were recognised for their projects and awarded certificates by the Chief Guest Shri Prasad Lolayekar, IAS, Secretary (Education), Government of Goa.

This initiative is part of the BIPP’s ongoing work to strengthen academic leadership and support systemic improvement in school education in Goa.