Policy Talks by Indian School of Business (ISB)

In this episode of Policy Talks, Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, IAS, Secretary, Finance, Government of Punjab and Divisional Commissioner, Jalandhar, speaks with Dr Aarushi Jain, Policy Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business.

She highlights the success stories in health, education, and urban planning sectors in Punjab. She emphasises the necessity of proactive policy interventions beyond routine governmental functions.

She also shares the insights gained and obstacles faced while shattering gender barriers in a predominantly male-dominated arena.

In this episode of Policy Talks, Jiji Mammen, Executive Director and CEO, Sa-Dhan, speaks with Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor (Research), and Research Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, ISB.

He speaks about India’s microfinance journey and lists out some challenges the country is facing in the sector.

In this episode of Policy Talks, Swati Chowdhary, Director, Network Development and Banking, South Asia, Women’s World Banking, speaks with Dr Aarushi Jain, Policy Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business.

She traces the evolution of the microfinance sector in the last two decades, from traditional banking to digital systems like JAM Trinity and UPI (Unified Payments Interface).

Swati Chowdhary reflects on the critical need of involving multiple stakeholders to address gender disparities in financial services. She also highlights the success of initiatives like Jan Dhan in boosting financial inclusion for women and stresses the need for targeted efforts to improve digital literacy and break gender barriers.

In this episode of Policy Talks, Dr Abhishek Jain, IAS, Secretary (Home, Information Technology, Finance, Planning & Statistics, Labour, and Employment), and Secretary to CM, Government of Himachal Pradesh, speaks with Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor (Research), and Research Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business.

Dr Jain discusses how Himachal Pradesh is actively working on an inclusive economic development model, addressing challenges in eco-friendly transport mechanisms, forest economies, commercial plantations, tourism, and governance practices to combat the adverse effects of climate change. Dr Jain also shares insights on how the state government is using data for better governance and effective policy outcomes.

Policy Talks S2E3: In this episode of Policy Talks, Prof A K Shiva Kumar, Development Economist and a visiting professor at ISB & Harvard Kennedy School is in conversation with Dr Aarushi Jain, Policy Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business. He lays out a post-pandemic social policy roadmap for India.

He speaks specifically on commitments of welfare states in key sectors like healthcare and education.

They also discuss limitations of EdTech; unregulated private schools; and the gap between enrolment rates and learning.

In this episode of Policy Talks, we have a leading industry expert discussing future opportunities and challenges in leveraging open data for public policy.

Ashish Aggarwal, Vice President, and Head of Public Policy, NASSCOM, is in conversation with Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor (Research), and Research Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business.

He discusses the role of the government in ensuring privacy of consumers, while using data for development in the backdrop of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. He underlines the need for balance between the two aspects of data: privacy and utilisation.

Tune in to understand how NASSCOM is doing this, and more.

In the first episode of Policy Talks Season 2, R S Sharma, former Mission Director, UIDAI, speaks with Professor Ashwini Chhatre, Executive Director, Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business. He discusses the importance of data ownership, the principles of inclusivity, and the scalability of ideas. He also explains the nitty-gritty of developing digital public goods and infrastructure. Other key aspects discussed include the concerns around proposed data ownership laws, the idea of consent, and the regulatory enforcement in light of the recent Personal Data Protection Draft Bill and Geospatial Policy in India.

In this episode of Policy Talks, Motika Rymbai and Collen Diengdoh, two of the representatives from the Meghalaya Legislative Research Fellowship, shed light on their transformative work in governance reform. Learn how the Meghalaya Institute of Governance and the Legislative Research Fellowship synergise knowledge, technology, and people to enhance governance and policy-making in Meghalaya.

In this episode of Policy Talks, Aiban Swer of the Meghalaya Institute of Governance talks about Meghalaya’s distinct demography, matrilineal society, and the challenges of applying national policies to this region. He further discusses how tailored, locally relevant policies have been instrumental in empowering Meghalaya's communities and driving sustainable growth.

In this episode of Policy Talks, Shipra Singhal and Saubhagya Samal, who are both participants of the Advanced Management Programme in Public Policy at ISB, dive deep into India's skilling and entrepreneurship landscape. They discuss the critical gap between the demand and supply of current skill initiatives and emphasise the importance of recognising skill development as a formal sector.

Note: Views expressed in the video are the personal opinions of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the official stance or policies of any organisation or institution they may be affiliated with.