Capstone Project Income Support for Landless Farmers Harsha Kavi – Knowledge Manager, National Institute of Urban Management (NIUM)- Hyderabad Harsha Kavi holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering... Read more Mainstreaming Climate Budgeting in the State of Telangana Rawson Gonsalves – MPP Class of 2023, Deputy Head, India Programme, Climate Bonds Initiative The

Capstone Project - Master's Program in Public Policy (MPP), Kautilya School of Public Policy, Best MPP Program

Bio :&nbsp;&nbsp;Pranitha has a Master&rsquo;s degree in Public Policy from the Kautilya School of Public Policy and a Bachelor&rsquo;s Degree in Humanities with a triple majors in History, Political Science and Public Administration. She has diverse interests spanning across Governance and International Affairs. With experience interning on projects in areas related to technology change, strategy, sustainable development goals and trade, she is committed to learning and better understanding policy and change.

Project outline

The project executes a comparative analysis of the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policies of four countries: India, China, South Korea, and the USA. The aim of the project is twofold. First, a comparative analysis of selected Science and Technology specific parameters (Research and Development expenditures vis-a-vis their GDP, total FTE researchers per million, number of publications and patent data) across four countries. Second, a thematic analysis of significant S&amp;T policies and governance structures with a focus on the salient themes that emerge across countries. The overall methodology is based on secondary data and hinges on benchmarking, wherein India&rsquo;s STI policy has been evaluated vis-&agrave;-vis the three countries. The analysis is based on descriptive statistics, and regression or correlation analysis has not been employed. The comparative analysis of select indicators has been confined to a fixed timeline of 2018 to 2022, and 2023 subject to data availability to facilitate better comparison. The project finally reviews best practices of countries, drawing recommendations for India to enhance its STI framework.

Charting India’s Path in the Global Technology Landscape: A Comparative Policy Study.

Bio:&nbsp;Mr. Peter has a Bachelor&#39;s in Social Work from Martin Luther Christian University, Shillong, Meghalaya State, India. He has two years of work experience in the humanitarian sector in the field of education in Chin State, Myanmar. He has also published articles on Chin&#39;s political situation in local media and federal journals. He has given his remarks on the current political situation in Chin (Myanmar) regarding Voice of America (VOA). He has recently completed his Master&rsquo;s degree in Public Policy from Kautilya School of Public Policy. Currently, he works for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) along the Indo-Myanmar Border.

Humanitarian Sector, refugee issues, Indo-Myanmar Border Issues, and Political Analysis (Chin State) are the areas of his interest.

Project Outline:&nbsp;The exploratory research explores the issues of Myanmar refugees who arrived in Mizoram after 2021 through humanitarian assistance- education, primary health care, human rights conditions, and livelihood situations. The project major&rsquo;s findings show that refugees in Mizoram have limited access to humanitarian assistance and unequal and unsystematic aid distribution among the refugees. The project also develops policy recommendations for the various stakeholders. A cross-sectional exploratory Qualitative Research Method is applied to get insights into the research problems and answers to the research questions.

A Study on Myanmar Refugees through the Lens of Humanitarian Assistance

Bio: Garima is a seasoned development sector professional with four years of experience in working with central and state governments, foundations, investors, and NGOs. She has a Master&rsquo;s degree in public policy from Kautilya School of Public Policy and a Bachelor&rsquo;s degree in Management Studies from Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, University of Delhi. Garima brings expertise in public policy with a focus on sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, WASH, and&nbsp;sustainability. 
 
Project Outline:&nbsp;This report aims to understand the reasons why natural farming is gaining traction in the modern era. It goes into the policies and schemes developed by the international and Indian governments to encourage its uptake. The study then shifts gears to focus on the Orvakal Mandal of Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh. The paper is focused on tracing the value chain of natural produce- Production, Marketable Surplus, Preparation for Sales, and At Sales Point. Each stage of the value chain brings challenges that reduce the scaleup of the natural farming ecosystem. This paper explains the subcomponents of each stage and lays out the challenges faced by all major stakeholders: farmers, retailers, and consumers. The paper then goes on to analyse how the systemic issues at each stage hinder the growth of natural farming in India despite government push and financial incentives. The paper ends by providing policy recommendations for each of the above-outlined stages as well as certain directions for future research.

Policy Recommendations to promote an effective and efficient natural farming value chain in Andhra Pradesh

Bio:&nbsp;Archana Gupta has a Bachelor in Economics and Psychology from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, University of Delhi. She has four years of work experience in social impact consulting and citizen service delivery. She has completed her Master&rsquo;s degree in Public Policy from Kautilya School of Public Policy.

Political economy, governance, and issues of development are the areas of her interest.&nbsp;

Project Outline:&nbsp;The exploratory research explores poverty in India through asset creation and ownership approach. It studies the status of existing assets at the household level in India and how they correspond to the respective poverty rates. The research is broadly qualitative in nature and focuses on analysing the role of physical assets in poverty alleviation and how they enhance people&rsquo;s standard of living. The existing measurement of poverty is solely based on income/consumption approach. The thesis attempts to present a case to broaden the idea of poverty mitigation by considering household-level assets as an indicator of poverty alleviation.&nbsp;

Asset Formation as an Instrument of Poverty Alleviation

Bio :&nbsp;&nbsp;Aishwarya Bansal holds a Bachelor of Technology in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Graphic Era University, Dehradun. She has completed her Master&rsquo;s degree in Public Policy at Kautilya School of Public Policy with a specialization in Business &amp; Government and Economics for Development. She has more than nine years of prior work experience in the IT industry. She had also interned at the Quality Council of India and worked on the Social Audit of a Project established by the National Commission for Women &amp; TISS, which involved assessment of the functioning &amp; effectiveness of Special Cells that provide psycho-socio-legal services to women facing violence.

Project Outline: This capstone project delves into &ldquo;Identifying &amp; Understanding the Challenges Faced by Transgender Individuals in Obtaining Transgender Identity Certificates in both Online and Offline in India&rdquo;. The government has attempted to actively support transgender rights through the introduction of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act in 2019. This Act mandates that anyone who wants their transgender status to be legally recognized must apply for a &quot;Transgender Certificate and Identity Card (MoSJE, n.d.)&quot;. This certificate serves as crucial official documentation categorizing their gender as transgender and is mandatory to avail of benefits under the SMILE scheme, such as scholarships for education, medical assistance, skill development, legal protection, etc, that would result in the advancement and progress of this community (MoSJE, n.d.). Through a rigorous qualitative primary research methodology, including extensive questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with Transgender Individuals, NGOs, and Government Officials, this study uncovers the systemic barriers and personal struggles experienced during the application process. By highlighting these challenges, this research seeks to offer crucial insights that will aid in policy refinement and effective implementation, promoting inclusivity of the marginalized group.

Identifying And Understanding The Challenges Faced By Transgender Individuals In Obtaining Transgender Certificate & Identity Card In India

Bio :&nbsp;Deep Vora holds a master&rsquo;s degree in Public Policy from the Kautilya School of Public Policy at GITAM University. Previously, he completed his undergraduate degree in Management Studies from the University of Mumbai. His key interests include Geopolitical issues, climate finance, and ESG consulting.

He was associated with LVBL Accelerator in Bangalore for his capstone project, working on live projects that support green entrepreneurship in the MSME sector. He worked as a Project Coordinator for the International Bearing Expo at Bearing Manufacturing India, where he managed events and stakeholder engagement. He was also associated as an intern with DeepStrat in New Delhi, analyzing India&#39;s national security strategies and participating in discussions on emerging technology issues and foreign information manipulation interference. His diverse experiences reflect his commitment to integrating sustainability with public policy solutions.

Project Outline:&nbsp;The paper aims to explore the challenges faced by green entrepreneurs in Bangalore, specifically within the home and living sector. This paper seeks to understand the various barriers and drivers influencing green entrepreneurship, focusing on how these enterprises compete with conventional market players. The study utilizes the Multiple Streams Framework (MSF), to analyze the interplay between environmental issues, policy dynamics, and market demands. The research involves qualitative analysis through semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and thematic analysis. Despite the increasing emphasis on sustainable development and green entrepreneurship, the study highlights green business faces key barriers like limited financing, regulatory challenges, and high market entry costs. Despite these obstacles, the paper reveals that green entrepreneurs are motivated by socio-environmental goals and are committed to sustainability beyond mere economic benefits. The report concludes with recommendations to support the practical needs of green businesses, fostering a supportive ecosystem that promotes green entrepreneurship and integrates sustainability into mainstream business practices in India.

Exploring Green Business Challenges in Bangalore City: A Qualitative Study of Green Enterprise in the Home and Living Sector

Bio : Antara Maitra holds a bachelor&rsquo;s degree in MS ( Software Engineering) from VIT, Vellore and a Post Graduate Diploma in Banking from ICICI Manipal Academy. She also holds a Master&rsquo;s degree in Public Policy from Kautilya School of Public Policy. She has worked as an Assistant Vice President at Credit Suisse Business Analytics (India) Pvt. Ltd. and as an Assistant Manger at ICICI Bank.

Project Outline: The paper examines the vulnerabilities of landless farming households in India by analyzing the existing social protection systems available to them and identifies the inadequacy of these schemes with respect to landless farmers. After conducting a systematic literature review of universal basic income (UBI) and unconditional cash transfers (UCT), this paper suggests a targeted and unconditional cash transfer for landless farmers. The suggestion is justified through the results of the systematic literature review which shows that there has been a positive correlation between cash transfers (UBI, UCT) on health, education, reduction in poverty, increase in household expenditure, overall betterment of the children, and the autonomy of the elderly.

An Exploratory Study on the International Just Transition Frameworks through An Inductive

Bio :&nbsp;Snigdha, a Kautilya School of Public Policy graduate, is an expert in public policy with a strong focus on sustainability. She&rsquo;s the Associate Manager of Government Relations at Ather Energy, a major player in the electric vehicle industry. In her role, she communicates with the government and external parties, keeps an eye on industry developments, and specializes in policy analysis.

Before joining Ather Energy, she spent 3.5 years at APCO Worldwide, gaining skills in advocacy, reputation management, media, and stakeholder engagement across various sectors.

Project Outline:&nbsp;Electric Vehicles are a sustainable alternative to conventional fossil fuels-based vehicles and a viable source of reducing the carbon footprint of the transport industry. India has adopted the goal of electrifying the transport sector and achieving 30% EV penetration in the country by 2030. One of the biggest factors that impacts EV adoption is the availability of Charging Infrastructure. For the promotion of EV and its rapid adoption, a robust charging infrastructure must be set up across the nation, so that issues such as range anxiety can be addressed.

This capstone project, undertaken in association with Ather Energy, assesses the present state of EV Charging Infrastructure Policy in India to understand the gap in policies and find a way ahead for future development of EV charging infrastructure, that would bolster the progression of E- mobility in India. The findings of the study show that India&rsquo;s central and state charging infrastructure policies offer incentives for the CI installers and consumers and have boosted the sales of EVs but they fail to address certain issues of standardisation effectively. The study also revealed that due to the presence of different nodal agencies in different states, there is a lack of coordination among the states on the issue of CI. Further, the study highlights the need for more two-wheeler EV compatible CI to meet the requirements of this rapidly developing segment of the EV industry.

Powering Progress: Assessment of India’s EV Charging Infrastructure Policy Landscape

Bio : Mayank Gupta, holds Master&rsquo;s in Public Policy from Kautilya School of Public Policy. Previously, he completed his undergraduate degree in Commerce from St. Xavier&rsquo;s Kolkata specializing in Finance. He has key interests topics like: Blended &amp; Climate finance, Impact Investing, Semiconductor Manufacturing Potential. He has been working on live projects in both national and international spheres supporting companies and governments in their net-zero and sustainable development goals.

He was associated with Tata Steel for the purpose of his capstone project for a duration of 3 months. He has worked closely with diverse teams/departments within Tata Steel to present his findings on corporate sustainability architecture. He has also been associated as a policy intern with NITI Aayog last year and had the opportunity to work in parallel with IFC and Ministry of Finance. As a prerequisite for policy professionals, he has sufficient field experience with UNICEF to improve public health outcomes through VHSND programs addressing vaccine hesitancy and health-hygiene related literacy among rural women.&rdquo;

Project Outline: Businesses have a wide range of impact on the external environment at the same time exogenous factors directly and indirectly affect the business. Sustainability in corporate behavior has become fundamental to derive profit with purpose. This project report has been prepared to highlight emerging trends and practices in corporate sustainability architecture from the perspective of Tata Steel Ltd. The interlinkage between steel and sustainability have been highlighted in this study. The importance of finance which enables sustainable business growth has been established and the emergence of a sustainable finance framework for sustainable bond issuances have been discussed. The kind and the constituents of the framework from the Tata Steel perspective has been provided. ESG ratings also form part of this project report where key material gaps in performance related to sustainability have been identified for Tata Steel. Comparative analysis and benchmarking have been conducted to highlight various practices in this field. The findings of this study reveal that GHG emission reduction is one of the most fundamental sustainability issues. Projects like procurement of renewable energy for business operations, investment into low carbon production technologies, educational support for dependent communities have also been identified. The report concludes with general recommendations for corporates particularly steel producers which is related to the findings of this study.

Corporate Sustainability Architecture: A Case-Study for Tata Steel

Bio : Shankar M.Mepparambath currently serves in a multifaceted role as a Mentor in Research and Training at CARES, Bangalore. He dedicates his expertise to nurturing minds and fostering knowledge. Additionally, he extends his proficiency as an adjunct and visiting faculty member at RIMS, Bangalore, and NTPC&rsquo;s NBS, Noida, specializing in Analytics and Research Methodology. His area of interest is studying the impact of Caste, Religion, and Language in Indian society. His work is publicly accessible and can be explored at https://github.com/Shankar24. His dedication to exploring socio-cultural dynamics is evident through his varied academic pursuits and mentorship roles

Project Outline: &ldquo;The study explores and examines Diversity, Equality and Inclusiveness (DEI) in private organisations, from gender and caste perspectives in terms of policy and practices. It examines the role of DEI as a mediator between psychological safety and workplace dignity. The study uses a mixed research method to explore DEI. Qualitative research methodology is adopted, and quantitative research methodology is applied to examine the relationship among the study constructs. Qualitative techniques included an in-depth interview method; nine informants were selected, belonging to various sectors such as banking, academics, manufacturing etc. Employees working in the private sector are the unit of analysis. The study applied a non-probability convenience sample method to collect the quantitative data, which was generated using a structured questionnaire method. 75 respondents filled the questionnaire. The qualitative findings showed that gender-based DEI is the most common; caste is still invisible in the corporate workspace,but it is living in a disguised form. Informants agreed the paradox between meritocracy and inclusiveness. However, they opted for meritocracy for core areas and Inclusiveness for the non-core business. Other DEI, such as People with Disability and Neuro, is slowly getting attention. On quantitative findings, DEI is a mediator between psychological safety and workplace dignity. On textual analysis broadly, four topics are formed. The study has limitations in terms of sample adequacy for statistical generalisation. A qualitative study would not get the information from face to face; all the informants are approached through Zoom. Respondents were recruited from the researcher&rsquo;s known circle.&rdquo;

An Exploratory study of caste-based DEI Policy in India

Bio :&nbsp;Anjali is a B.Sc. Economics (First Class Honors) Graduate from Podar World College, Mumbai, affiliated with the London School of Economics and Political Science. She completed her Master&rsquo;s in Public Policy from Kautilya School of Public Policy, Hyderabad with a degree specialisation in Governance and Society. She works in the sector of trade policies after the completion of her Masters and currently holds the position of an Associate Program Manager at Global Trade Observer based out of Delhi. She is part of Global Trade Observer&rsquo;s Telangana Project. Her interests lie in gender, education, sustainability, and trade.

Project Outline:&rdquo; In India, the LGBTQIA+ community has predominantly been opposed by society and overlooked by the government when it comes to laws and regulations. This deliberate societal neglect and absence have led to increased cases of abuse and harassment, physical,psychological, and mental, concerning sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), which is increasingly being witnessed in children in schools. Childrens minds can be molded at this tender age, and thus there is a need for gender sensitization/awareness programs (GSP) and additions to the school curriculum.Teacher training programs, courses on B.Ed. etc., that speak about gender sensitization, also fail to include the LGBQTIA+ component.To support the hypothesis of GSPs being an effective tool to mold views and attitudes,this study aims to conduct an impact analysis on an ongoing LGBTQIA+ gender sensitization program, the &ldquo;Breaking Barriers Campaign&rdquo; of the Tagore International School (TIS), Vasant Vihar, Delhi. The paper demonstrates a comparative analysis using questionnaires between TIS students and students not exposed to such content in schools (control group). Results show that TIS students are more aware and educated about the community when compared to the control group. No significant difference could be witnessed in their acceptance and attitudes; however,TIS students have more decisive responses to questions (&lsquo;strongly agree/disagree&rsquo;). Interviews with parents, teachers, LGBTQIA+ activists, and ex-students give insights into the various reasons for the absence of such information in the curricula or programs of schools, especially when LGBTQIA+ community issues are gaining attention in the mainstream media. According to the self-reported responses, TIS students families are more aware of LGBTQIA+ persons, and more TIS students have had such conversations with them. Still, the same cannot be said certainly about their thoughts or attitudes. GSPs can empower students with information, which makes them knowledgeable and eliminates misconceptions. It has also been shown to have positive spillover effects on the familys awareness and education.&rdquo;

Impact Analysis of a School-based LGBTQIA+ Gender Sensitization Program in India

Bio :&nbsp;&ldquo;Rawson Gonsalves, a graduate from the Kautilya School of Public Policy in the year 2023, currently serves as the Deputy Head of the India Programme at Climate Bonds Initiative. In this capacity, he is actively involved in shaping initiatives related to Sustainable Finance in India, while closely collaborating with the Head of South Asia Programmes.

Previously, Rawson worked as a consultant at EY India, where he successfully executed strategic engagements for a wide range of financial institutions. His areas of expertise encompass various aspects, including business advisory, risk management, audit, compliance, change management, and project management. Notably, his focus lies on treasury, trade finance, corporate banking, and global markets. Rawson&rsquo;s primary area of interest and enthusiasm revolves around climate finance and risk.&rdquo;

Project Outline:&nbsp;The paper endeavors to explore the notion of climate budgeting as a policy instrument for directing financial resources toward climate change mitigation and adaptation. Despite the recent upsurge in green and climate financing, its impact has reached a plateau, necessitating the identification, evaluation, and application of policy tools to standardize and channel such financing. Climate budgeting is one such tool that is progressively being adopted by governments worldwide to incorporate climate change considerations into budgeting and spending decisions. The primary aim of this paper is to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of green and climate budgeting, explore its techniques, obstacles, procedures, and instruments, identify effective practices, and formulate recommendations to promote the integration of climate budgeting into the mainstream. The study recognizes the potential of climate budgeting to channel financial resources toward climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, it acknowledges the challenges associated with it, including issues around data collection and monitoring, uncertainty, political hurdles, limited funding, lack of standardization, and complexity. The ultimate objective is to establish climate budgeting as a policy tool by means of recommendation to facilitate climate finance outflows to mitigate and adapt to the consequences of climate change in the state of Telangana as a case.

Mainstreaming Climate Budgeting in the State of Telangana

Bio :&nbsp;Harsha Kavi holds a bachelor&rsquo;s degree in Computer Science and Engineering from KL University, Vijayawada, and a master&rsquo;s degree in Public Policy from Kautilya School of Public Policy. After graduating from Kautilya, Harsha entered the field of government advisory and now works as a Knowledge Manager at the National Institute of Urban Management (NIUM) in Hyderabad.

His primary interests lie at the intersection of Social Protection and the Informal Economy.

Project Outline:&nbsp;The paper examines the vulnerabilities of landless farming households in India by analyzing the existing social protection systems available to them and identifies the inadequacy of these schemes with respect to landless farmers. After conducting a systematic literature review of universal basic income (UBI) and unconditional cash transfers (UCT), this paper suggests a targeted and unconditional cash transfer for landless farmers. The suggestion is justified through the results of the systematic literature review which shows that there has been a positive correlation between cash transfers (UBI, UCT) on health, education, reduction in poverty, increase in household expenditure, overall betterment of the children, and the autonomy of the elderly.