From Field to Policy: ISB Unveils Six Landmark Volumes of Microstudies in Human Development

New Delhi, December 22, 2025: The Bharti Institute of Public Policy (BIPP) at the Indian School of Business (ISB) today unveiled six landmark volumes of microstudies in Human Development. Launched under the Platform for Development Research and Communication (PDRC) initiative, these volumes are a part of the ongoing BIPP–Routledge series, ‘Innovations, Practice, and the Future of Public Policy in India’.
 
Speaking at the launch, Amarjeet Sinha, IAS (Retd.) and Senior Fellow, Centre for Social & Economic Progress, and one of the editors of the two volumes, said, “The launch of the six volumes is the beginning of a journey of collaborative work to make a difference. The idea is to be able to develop a non- political coalition of academics, practitioners, civil society professionals, policy makers and activists to continue to make an evidence-based voice of reason and human well-being.”
 
Sharing his vision, Professor Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor and Executive Director, BIPP, ISB, and one of the three editors of the volume, ‘Pathways to Rural Prosperity: Livelihood Interventions and Transformation in India’, said, “At Bharti Institute of Public Policy, we are committed to bridging the gap between theory and practice. The launch of these volumes bears testimony to our goal of empowering policymakers with evidence-based insights. In an era of widespread misinformation, rigorous peer-reviewed knowledge produced by blending experience and collaboration guides decision-makers across multiple sectors and regions. We are also committed to making this knowledge available through open-access platforms, enabling stakeholders across the spectrum to design interventions that solve real-world challenges.”
 
Professor Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor and Research Director, BIPP, ISB and one of the two editors of the volume, “Changing Tides: Climate Action and Justice in India”, highlighted the monumental scale of this initiative, specifically acknowledging the relentless efforts of the series editors, and the incredible collaborative spirit of the 192 authors who contributed their expertise to 102 chapters in these volumes. Emphasising the urgency of integrated research, he said, “These volumes collectively make visible the threads that link sectors together—revealing how livelihoods, climate vulnerability, and institutional strength intersect to shape India’s future."
 
The launch also witnessed six thematic panel discussions delving deeper on these volumes along with two insightful, distinguished panel discussions featuring Jugal K Mohapatra, former secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India; Balveer Arora, chairperson, Centre for Multilevel Federalism, New Delhi; Sekhar Bonu, Senior Fellow, NITI Aayog; and Deepak Nayyar, Emeritus Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University.
 
Dr Aarushi Jain, Policy Director and Head of Government Affairs, BIPP, and one of the two editors of the volume, ‘Reimagining Institutions: Collaborative Pathways to Social Development in India’, said, “These six volumes are more than just a repository of research. Through these six volumes, we have captured human development as it is lived and practised on the ground. These volumes provide a rigorous, multidimensional roadmap for the future of public policy in India.”
 
Over 250 guests, including researchers and academics from institutes across India, policymakers, and civil society activists, attended the day-long event.