Archives: Event

Regional webinars on ‘Methodology for Skill Demand Assessment’

Regional workshops with the northern and southern states of the country convened today at Kaushal Bhawan under the chairpersonship of Secretary, MSDE. While the states/UTs presented the methodologies adopted for their respective skill gap studies, NCAER presented the findings of the ‘National Skill Gap Study for High Growth Sectors’ conducted under the SANKALP programme of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The primary aim of the study is to create a dynamic framework for skill gap assessment that can be regularly updated to predict skill requirements in line with the evolving economic landscape to ensure uniformity and standardization.

 

 

 

 

 

The workshops lead to meaningful insights and discussions of the methodologies applied by the respective studies and provided a platform for knowledge exchange.

NCAER and MSDE Skill India SANKALP programme conducted two regional workshops with the eastern and western states of the country convened at Kaushal Bhawan on ‘Methodology for Skill Demand Assessment’ on March 13, 2025.

Her Freedom, Her Future: Financial & Digital Literacy for Women’s Economic Empowerment and a Prosperous Viksit Bharat

The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), and the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) in collaboration with SSCBS, University of Delhi, successfully hosted a workshop on “Her Freedom, Her Future: Financial & Digital Literacy for Women’s Economic Empowerment and a Prosperous Viksit Bharat” at Rohini, Delhi, on March 7, 2025. This event was organized to celebrate International Women’s Day and emphasize the role of financial and digital literacy in fostering women’s economic independence. It brought together leading policymakers, economists, legal experts, and financial literacy advocates to discuss strategies for enhancing financial inclusion and digital literacy among women in India.

Dr. Poonam Verma, Professor-Principal, SSCBS, University of Delhi, delivered the welcome address, underscored the importance of IEPFA and NCAER in promoting financial and digital literacy in fostering economic self-reliance among women.

The keynote speaker Ms. Anita Shah Akella, CEO, IEPFA and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India through her message, conveyed that investor education and protection is on the national agenda and highlighted IEPFA’s efforts in creating a more informed, protected, and empowered community of investors. She encouraged all to actively participate, engage with IEPFA initiatives and take this opportunity to enhance their understanding and promote advocacy of investor rights and education.

The workshop featured a compelling panel discussion on the theme “Her Freedom, Her Future: Financial & Digital Literacy for Women’s Economic Empowerment and a Prosperous Viksit Bharat.” The session was moderated by Dr. C.S. Mohapatra, IEPF Chair Professor, NCAER, who provided an insightful overview of the financial literacy landscape and the need for integrated efforts in digital and financial inclusion. Dr. Mohapatra stressed that financial literacy is a fundamental enabler of women’s empowerment, allowing them to participate more effectively in economic activities, access investment opportunities, and secure their financial future. He elaborated on the challenges women face in achieving financial independence, including gaps in digital access, legal awareness, and economic participation. Drawing from his extensive policy and reforms experience, Dr. Mohapatra advocated for tailored financial education programs, strategic policy interventions, and collaborative efforts between academia, government, and industry to bridge gender disparities in financial inclusion to take the nation towards Viksit Bharat.

Prominent speakers in the panel included policy experts, legal expert and academicians. Lt. Col. Aditya Sinha, GM, IEPFA, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, discussed the initiatives undertaken by IEPFA to promote financial literacy and safeguard investor interests across various demographic groups. Prof. Bornali Bhandari, Co-Director, Centre for Gender and Macroeconomy, NCAER, emphasized the importance of financial independence for women and its direct impact on economic growth and workforce participation. Prof. Gunjan Gupta, Law Expert & Professor, Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi, highlighting that women play a crucial role in nation building, elaborated on the legal aspects of financial empowerment, including consumer rights and protection in digital financial transactions, in our efforts for a Viksit Bharat. Dr. Arpita Mukherjee, Policy Expert & Professor, ICRIER, provided insights, with case studies on digital literacy and its intersection with financial empowerment, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas. Ms. Aprajita Sharma, Assistant Editor, Mint & Financial Journalist spoke about the importance of financial awareness in personal wealth creation and investment planning. And highlighted how financial literacy plays a crucial role in bridging the knowledge gap for women investors and emphasized the vital role of digital media to safeguard from scams and frauds. Lastly, Dr. Ashish Desai, Associate Professor, Information Management and Analytics, S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai, through his presentation highlighted the role of data analytics and technology in bridging financial literacy gaps and improving access to financial services, specially for rural and SHG Women entrepreneurs.

The panelists engaged in an enriching discussion on the current challenges and opportunities in financial and digital literacy, with an emphasis on actionable solutions for women’s financial empowerment. An interactive Q&A session followed, allowing participants to engage with the experts and seek clarifications on financial planning, investment strategies, and the legal framework for financial security.

This workshop, on the eve of International Women’s Day, reinforced the collective commitment of IEPFA, NCAER, and SSCBS, University of Delhi towards fostering financial awareness and ensuring women’s economic empowerment. By leveraging synergies between academia, regulatory bodies, and industry experts, this initiative aimed to equip women with the knowledge and tools necessary to contribute to a prosperous Viksit Bharat.

Investor Education, not a One-Stop Effort: Synergy and Digitalisation is the Need of the Hour

The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), in collaboration with the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. (NSE), successfully hosted a high-impact workshop on “Investor Education, not a One-Stop Effort: Synergy and Digitalisation is the Need of the Hour” at Hyderabad, on February 12, 2025. This event brought together leading financial experts, policymakers, and academia to discuss specifically the issue of synergetic efforts for investor education and promoting financial literacy in India, as also multidimensional benefits of digitalization of financial education in India.

An esteemed panel of experts who shared insights on financial inclusion, regulatory frameworks, and the role of digitalization in promoting investor education. Prof. B. J. Rao, Vice Chancellor, University of Hyderabad offered the inaugural address. The session was moderated by Dr. C.S. Mohapatra, IEPF Chair Professor, NCAER, (Speaker & Moderator). Lt Col Aditya Sinha, GM, IEPFA, Ministry of Corporate Affairs; Mr. Krishnan Iyer, Senior Vice President – Business Development, NSE India Ltd.; Dr. Tirthankar Patnaik, Chief Economist, NSE India Ltd.; Dr. Mamta Suri, Former Executive Director, IRDAI & IBBI; Prof. Debashis Acharya, Professor, School of Economics, University of Hyderabad; and Dr. Satish Kumar, Professor, Finance & Accounting, IBS Hyderabad (ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education) attended the workshop as experts. They shared their insights on financial literacy, regulatory policies, digital transformation in investor education, and strategies for enhancing investor protection in India’s capital markets.

After the traditional lamp lighting ceremony, Mr. Krishnan Iyer welcomed the participants. Prof. B. J. Rao, Vice Chancellor, University of Hyderabad, in his inaugural address and discussed the role of digital innovation in financial education and how academia can contribute to bridging financial literacy gaps among students and young investors. Ms. Anita Shah Akella, CEO of IEPFA and Joint Secretary in the Ministry Corporate Affairs, in her message, conveyed that investor education and protection is on the national agenda and highlighted IEPFA’s efforts in creating a more informed, protected, and empowered community of investors. Through her message, read out by Lt. Col, Aditya Sinha, GM, IEPFA, she encouraged all to actively participate, engage with IEPFA initiatives and take this opportunity to enhance their understanding and promote advocacy of investor rights and education.

Dr. C.S. Mohapatra, IEPF Chair Professor at NCAER, who served as the moderator for the session, in his opening remarks, Dr. Mohapatra explained investor education is a continuous process that requires synergy among stakeholders and the effective use of digitalization to remain relevant in an evolving financial landscape. Dr. Mohapatra emphasized that financial literacy efforts must be sustained, collaborative, and technology-driven to empower investors with informed decision-making skills. Targeted programs, such as women and rural investors, are crucial for inclusive financial empowerment. Ultimately, a dynamic and technology-integrated approach is essential to making investor education a priority, he stressed.

In the panel discussion, panelists focused on how digitalization can bridge financial literacy gaps, enhance investor protection, and create a sustainable investment ecosystem. Experts deliberated on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in India’s capital markets and proposed strategies for inclusive financial growth.

Dr. Tirthankar Patnaik highlighted the influence of data-driven financial education and the role of digitalization in strengthening market confidence. Dr. Mamta Suri discussed regulatory measures in the insurance and financial sectors, leveraging her expertise in risk management and corporate governance. She spoke about the importance of policy interventions in safeguarding investors and enhancing financial resilience. Prof. Debashis Acharya in his address highlighted cases of fraud and cybersecurity threats in payments and banking, particularly affecting vulnerable groups. He underscored the urgent need to strengthen dispute resolution mechanisms and enhance regulatory interventions to build consumer trust and confidence in today’s payment and settlement systems. Additionally, he stressed the importance of frequent, customized financial literacy and awareness programs tailored for rural, semi-urban, and urban users of financial services. Lastly, Dr. Satish Kumar emphasized on the special effort required for senior citizens and stated that Digitalization is transforming financial access for Indian pensioners, making investments more transparent and efficient. Coupled with robust investor education, it empowers them to make informed decisions, ensuring financial security in retirement. In his concluding remarks, Dr. C.S. Mohapatra highlighted the importance of synergetic and structured financial education and how applied research can support investor protection strategies. The workshop culminated with an interactive Q&A session, allowing participants to engage with experts on key investor-related concerns.

This initiative underscored the continuous efforts of IEPFA, NCAER, and NSE in promoting investor awareness and fostering financial inclusion across all demographics. By leveraging the synergy between regulatory bodies, academia, and industry experts, the workshop aimed to equip investors with the necessary knowledge and tools to navigate India’s dynamic financial landscape.

Roundtable Discussion: Translating Research on Women’s Economic Empowerment into Policy: Progress and Prospects 

On 30th January 2025, the National Data Innovation Centre (NDIC) at NCAER collaborated with The Quantum Hub (TQH) to organize a roundtable discussion titled “Translating Research on Women’s Economic Empowerment into Policy: Progress and Prospects”, held at the NCAER campus in Delhi The event explored how policymaking can be driven by evidence and how research can be made relevant to policy. Over thirty intellectuals from research, academia, development, and policy sectors lent their voices to the discussion, contributing data, insights, and experiences and thus eliciting a myriad of pathways to answering a complex two-fold question. The event featured a keynote speech by Dr. Sonalde Desai, special remarks by Dr. Devaki Jain, and two moderated sessions led by Dr. Pallavi Choudhuri and Ms. Aparajita Bharti respectively.

Ms. Bharti delivered the introductory remarks highlighting the relevance, application, and impact of contemporary research on women’s economic power in India.  Dr Sonalde Desai traced the historical interactions between social science research and policy in India, urging scholars to collaborate and integrate feminist perspectives into decision-making. Dr Desai highlighted critical emerging areas, including the changing nature of work, the dynamics of platform and gig work, and evolving family structures in India.   In her special remarks, Padma Bhushan Ms. Jain highlighted the need to recognize women’s economic contributions, stressing collective efforts for meaningful change. Ms. Jain shared the journey of feminist economics research in India, drawing from her extensive experience with the Planning Commission and the South Commission.

The session on “Evolving Research Landscape on Women’s Economic Empowerment”, moderated by Dr. Choudhuri, examined the role of data in policymaking, particularly in recognizing unpaid family work and expanding definitions of labor.  The session on “Pathways to Translating Research into Action”, moderated by Ms. Bharti, explored strategies for integrating research into policy interventions. Speakers emphasized the importance of women’s education, progressive curriculum reforms, and collaboration at all levels.

The roundtable discussion provided valuable insights into the complex relationship between research and policymaking on women’s economic empowerment in India. The event underscored the need for evidence-driven policies and greater recognition of women’s economic contributions. Key discussions underscored the need for fair compensation, data-driven policy linkages, and cross-sector collaboration. The discussions emphasized that a collective, unified approach is essential for translating research into impactful policy interventions that can drive real, systemic change for women in the workforce.

Addressing Gender Based Violence in India

NCAER, in collaboration with the World Bank, organised a roundtable discussion on “Addressing Gender Based Violence in India” at its campus on the 5th of December, 2024.

The event began with an opening address by Soumya Kapoor Mehta from the World Bank, who highlighted the alarmingly high prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) in India despite significant policy initiatives. This was followed by three insightful presentations. The first presentation by Geetika Hora from the World Bank explored gender-based violence in Kerala. The second by Mansi Shah from SEWA examined how structural violence in informal work environments contributes to GBV. The last presentation by Navya Srivastava from NCAER analysed the drivers of intimate partner violence (IPV) across India and established a link between women’s formal employment and their risk of IPV.

The subsequent discussions, moderated by Dr Ratna Sahay from NCAER, delved into policy solutions aimed at addressing both individual determinants and the broader economic and cultural factors that perpetuate GBV. Key policy recommendations included improving gender attitudes among both men and women through gender-sensitivity training integrated into primary and secondary education, holding men accountable for acts of violence, increasing women’s participation in the formal labour force, and strengthening institutional quality, accessibility, and accountability.

The discussions also highlighted the impact of GBV on children, emphasising the need to include children in prevention strategies. Additionally, significant attention was given to the rising prevalence of GBV in online spaces, underscoring the need to enhance women’s safety both online and offline.

    Get updates from NCAER