Reports

India Inc. for Building Bharat: How Systemic CSR is Building Enduring Impact for Tomorrow

This report documents emerging trends in corporate philanthropy, highlighting the rise of catalytic funding directed to organisations which support governments in strengthening public systems. It analyses 13 CSRs/CSR foundations which have adopted systemic giving models by aligning a proportion of their grantmaking or operating strategy.

Reports

Systemic Impact Exemplars: Unique Approaches Towards Solving India’s Development Challenges

The report profiles 20 of India’s leading System Support Organisations, and aims to inspire and inform other social purpose organisations by building evidence on what works in the Indian context. It serves as a comprehensive knowledge resource, intended to shape thinking on systems change.

Newsletters

Road to Viksit Bharat runs through State Capitals

Broad policy direction and a share of funding might come from the Centre, but a large part of India’s development action happens at state level. What path should an ambitious Chief Minister who wants to make their state Viksit, follow? A leader with an eye for the history books can focus, for the shorter term, on job creation in their state; and for the longer term, on augmenting human capital and state capacity. This letter makes suggestions towards the former – which can be realised within the ambit of a five-year electoral cycle. To this end, a Chief Minister can work on identifying sectors where their state can be competitive, improve ease of doing business and overall investment climate on the ground, prioritise cities or city regions as engines of growth, and enhance labour-intensive sectors such as tourism. In the realm of ease of doing business, Prosperiti does granular analysis of labour laws, land and building bye-laws and other areas at state level, suggesting to state governments how they can reform these for better economic performance. For example, it has partnered with the Punjab government to draft the state rules under the new Labour codes, and with the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government to reform the state’s Factories Rules.

Op-Eds

The Reforms Express is gaining speed but has a long way to go

Indian reforms will deliver the goods once the culture of governance changes in ways that enable India to reach its destination.

Op-Eds

Road to Viksit Bharat runs through a strengthened NIPUN Bharat

Doubling down on the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy will yield long-lasting growth multipliers.

Op-Eds

When environmental rules stall housing, not pollution

India's environmental clearance process often delays urban housing projects, raising costs and slowing jobs without improving protection. A risk-based system could speed low-impact projects while safeguarding sensitive areas.

Op-Eds

India needs to remove tax friction for more FDI

India is looking to boost foreign investment by reforming its tax system. Recent proposals aim to simplify taxes on foreign holdings. The country faces challenges with its current tax structure, which is seen as complex and frequently changing. Reforms are needed to make India competitive and predictable for global investors. This will help attract more capital and support economic growth.

Op-Eds

Some smart(phone) lessons for industrial policy

These should guide the redesign of PLIs in sectors such as textiles, telecom products, and others, while driving job creation by supercharging labour-intensive industries like garments, footwear, and toys.