Introduction
Innovating Public Policy For New India
A strong appreciation for public policy is critical to driving good governance outcomes. While political consensus determines broad policy direction, designing a sound policy, executing it well, measuring impact and iterating it using a feedback loop is what translates vision into action. Far too often, good intentions are marred by poor policy design.
The importance of good public policy acquires urgency in a country like India that needs to solve problems and deliver governance and welfare at mammoth scale. India’s size, diversity and vast geographic footprint makes it necessary to create our own policy solutions as it becomes impractical to adapt solutions designed for richer or smaller nations.
India also needs to design policies that on the one hand extends a safety net for its underprivileged while on the other side of the spectrum enabling the nation’s technology and innovation engines to develop world-beating products, public digital infrastructure and other solutions. It has to work on policies that make India a $40 trillion economy by 2047, all the while making sure no one is left behind.
While India has a strong track record in public policy initiatives that have driven change or delivered welfare at scale, such as the mid-day meals scheme, MNREGS, aspirational districts program, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Make in India and others, there is a need to recognize and share the policy initiatives that have solved various challenges at district, state and national levels so that India’s public policy ecosystem, comprising, academics, practitioners, consultants, students, volunteers and others, can be strengthened.
Mint India Public Policy Summit aims to recognize and highlight successful policy initiatives from across the nation and to bring together experts and leading practitioners to a deliberate and critically appraise the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities that the policy landscape in this vast nation offers.