
The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has launched the Viksit Bharat Vichar Kendra (VBVK), a five-year interdisciplinary think tank to strengthen policy research around India's development goals. The centre will bring together academics, researchers, policymakers, civil society, industry and students to work on social policy, governance, livelihoods, health, education, climate resilience, gender justice, urban and rural development, and digital transformation.

Key programmes include policy reviews, the Viksit Bharat Chair Professors and Fellows Programme, seminars under the theme 'Knowing India', public lectures, and publications of policy briefs and working papers. TISS vice-chancellor Badri Narayan Tiwari said the fellows programme will bring chair professors, mid-career professionals and young researchers for interdisciplinary research and mentoring. The centre will also undertake research linked to the Viksit Maharashtra 2047 agenda and expand through TISS campuses in Hyderabad and Guwahati.
Viksat Bharat is the government's flagship vision to make India a developed nation by 2047. Think tanks like this one typically serve as bridges between academic research and government policy, but their effectiveness depends on sustained funding and independence. TISS, a leading social sciences institute, already runs several research centres, this new Kendra formalises its role in shaping the Viksit Bharat agenda. The inclusion of the Viksit Maharashtra 2047 agenda shows state-level alignment. The real test will be whether the Kendra's policy briefs lead to measurable changes in government programmes or budget allocations. The next signal to watch is the first set of policy briefs expected within a year.
Watch for the first public lecture series and the appointment of chair professors as indicators of the centre's direction.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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