Navigating India’s Public Policy

Description

Navigating India’s Public Policy brings together analytical articles—many jointly written by the authors—originally published in leading platforms such as The Hindu Business Line, Business Standard, Financial Express, Economic and Political Weekly, and Mainstream Weekly. The volume examines key developments in India’s economic and policy landscape, including macroeconomic management, fiscal federalism, governance challenges, GST, and the impact of Covid-19, while also reflecting on issues concerning Assam and the North-Eastern region. As noted by Dr. C. Rangarajan in the Foreword, the collection “offers an insightful reflection on the evolution of India’s public policy discourse”. By analyzing contemporary policy landscapes, the book encourages a critical thinking approach to understanding public policy and development issues. It offers valuable perspectives for policymakers, researchers, students, and readers interested in India’s evolving economic governance and development strategy.

Atul Sarma is a distinguished economist and academician with extensive experience in economic research, public policy, and institutional leadership. He served as Vice- Chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar, and later as a Member of the Thirteenth Finance Commission of India. He was an ICSSR Mahatma Gandhi National Fellow and associated with leading research institutions as Honorary Visiting Professor at the Institute for Human Development and the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, New Delhi. He served as Chairman of the OKD Institute for Social Change and Development, Guwahati, and as Distinguished Professor at the Council for Social Development. Earlier, Prof. Sarma was Professor of Economics and headed the Delhi Centre of the Indian Statistical Institute and earlier at the Sardar Patel Institute of Economic and Social Research, Ahmedabad. A Post-doctoral Fellow at MIT, USA, he has been a visiting professor at several universities in India and abroad. He was President of the Indian Econometric Society and closely associated with several policy and research institutions. Atul Sarma served as Economic Adviser to the Eighth and Tenth Finance Commissions, Independent Director of SAIL, and consultant to international organizations including ADB, FAO, UNESCAP, IDRC, and UNIDO. His publications focus on public finance, international trade, and regional development, particularly the economic transformation of North-East India.

Shyam Sunder is a public policy professional with over 25 years of experience in public policy, corporate affairs, and government engagement. Currently Head – Public Policy & Corporate Citizenship at Mercedes-Benz India, he leads strategic policy engagement on sustainable mobility, electric vehicles, and regulatory frameworks. A Doctorate in Economics, he has worked with Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Hyundai, FICCI, KOTRA, Ranbaxy, and Intech Organics. The authors have also jointly contributed several research articles and policy papers examining contemporary economic and policy issues through an evidence-based analytical perspective.