Researchers Publication

India has embarked on an ambitious plan to transition its energy sector towards sustainability and resilience. The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) emphasise reducing the emissions intensity of the GDP by 45 per cent by 2030, increasing the share of non-fossil-fuel-based electricity capacity to 50 per cent, and achieving net zero emissions by 2070. This transformative...   Read More

Once revered as the “City of Lakes,” Hyderabad is now grappling with a governance crisis, where its lakes—long-standing public goods—are being sacrificed for private gains. Recent data from the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) reveal a stark reality: between 1979 and 2023, Hyderabad’s lake area has declined by 61%, shrinking from 40.35 square kilometres to...   Read More

Despite significant progress in educational attainment and health outcomes, India lags in enabling women’s economic participation, which, in turn, impedes the goal of fast and inclusive economic growth. This article shows that formalising part-time employment and redistributing unpaid care work between men and women could raise female labour force participation by six percentage points, from...   Read More

This paper explores ‘gatekeeping’, the phenomenon where access to a sample person in the household is controlled by another person. Gatekeeping of female persons is especially an issue in societies governed by gendered social norms. It can increase survey error by reducing response rates and potentially increasing non-response bias, and can increase measurement error when...   Read More

The time for incremental progress has passed. Bold policy measures, cultural shifts, and institutional support are required to break the barriers that hinder women’s leadership. The Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023 now enacted and set to be implemented after the census and delimitation exercise marks a significant milestone in ensuring greater representation for women in governance....   Read More

In the Review, we summarise the economic and policy developments in India; monitor global developments of relevance to India; and showcase the pulse of the economy through an analysis of high-frequency indicators and the heat map. Click here for previous issues.

The IHDS Forum is a monthly update of socio-economic developments in India by the IHDS research community, based on the India Human Development Survey, jointly conducted by NCAER and the University of Maryland. While two earlier rounds of the survey were completed in 2004-05 and 2011-12, respectively. Fieldwork for the third round was undertaken in...   Read More

India is gearing up for green transition through policy and budgetary support to reduce dependence on finite fossil fuels, to curb greenhouse gas emissions, and to mitigate climate change. The Viksit Bharat 2047 vision aims to transform India into a developed nation, which will drive a significant rise in energy demand across industries, infrastructure, and...   Read More

India’s public debt, at about 80 percent of GDP, is disproportionately high for its per capita income. Yet committed constituencies advocating for smaller or higher quality debt are largely absent. The complacency is because high debt has neither resulted in runaway interest rates or rollover risks nor is it seen to be a drag on...   Read More

When taking the G20 gavel, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that he will focus on problems of debt sustainability in low income countries. He made it clear that the first African Chair of the G20 is there for all of Africa, acknowledging the continent is home to 22 of the world’s 26 low income countries—half  of...   Read More

Enhancement of the limit is not sufficient to make the scheme more accessible or beneficial to a broader section of farmers. The repayment schedule is also a significant challenge. Budget 2025 is one of the most promising Budgets in recent years, aiming to address the needs of the masses after a long time. One of...   Read More

A shift in focus from continuous expansion to ensuring sustainability and effectiveness of programmes is imperative for achieving policy success. The world is at a crossroads, navigating unprecedented economic, technological, geopolitical, and environmental challenges. Donald Trump’s uncompromising “America First” policies and the use of coercion to achieve his objectives have heightened economic and geopolitical uncertainties,...   Read More