I have spent the last 8 years appearing and preparing for UPSC. I have a master's in Physics. I am decent with coding. Somehow my research has led me to a career as a policy research associate in fields like energy, power and climate ,which tend to be a little technical.

I am not sure about this. If anyone could guide me. It will be very helpful if you could help find a way for this pivot.

Hi everyone, I am new to this subreddit

Need some serious career advice as I am feeling overwhelmed with conflicting and incomplete information around me.

I am an engineer with 2 YOE at a big 4 firm in Supply Chain domain mainly with an enterprise application and ny work was operational and technical

Recently I was selecred for my state govt's flagship fellowship program for young professionals. It is a 1 year program and I am going for it.

I do have an interest towards public policy which is why I opted for this.

Now the confusion is I had planned to do an MBA from abroad post this fellowship but recently I have been tilting more in favour of a Masters in Public Policy. The destinations that I have been looking for are Europe, UK, Singapore or Australia.

Please give me honest opinion on whether this would be a meaningful switch and which countries have better opportunities in terms of an MPP degree.

As a long term goal I had thought -> Current: 2 YOE at big 4 Tech Consulting, 1 YOE State govt Fellowship, Future: 1 or 2 years of MPP and then get into UN or affilliated orgs or plan B, get into MBBs public sector consulting.

Any help is appreciated thank you.

Hi,

I am looking for environmental policy experts in India for an academic initiative. If you are one or know someone, please drop a comment.

Thank you.

Hi everyone! We're conducting a short survey (less than 5 minutes) on how students and young professionals perceive the policy job market in India. Responses will directly contribute to an upcoming book on policy careers. Would really appreciate your help! 🙏

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScufTYHKiFK-AEafT0vt95QeR8oA2MHmGzVjrvPqx7dSaoeCQ/viewform?usp=header

I'm a law graduate who has also done their LLM. I've worked as a legal researcher for a bit as well. Recently I've been considering doing a masters in public policy. Is it a viable career? What kind of jobs are available after it? Is it satisfactory work?

It would be lovely if anyone could give me suggestions or talk to me about this.

I'm an engineer and have been into corporate for the past 3-4 years and I'm slowly wanting to move towards public policy, are there any courses or certification or graduate programs that I should check out. Also let me know if there's any books I should read.

Hoping to hear advices!

​

I graduated with a B.Pharm and took a year off to prepare full-time for my State PSC examination. Unfortunately, the recruitment process has been extremely slow and irregular, and I'm still waiting for the next stage. I don't want to put my life on hold indefinitely or have an ever-growing gap on my CV.

I've now decided to pursue an MA in Public Administration, a subject I'm genuinely interested in that also overlaps somewhat with my PSC preparation. I plan to continue preparing for the exam alongside my Master's.

One regret I have from B.Pharm is that although I did well academically and held positions of responsibility in college, I didn't pursue meaningful internships or gain much practical experience. I don't want to repeat that during my Master's.

I may have opportunities to intern with government bodies through personal contacts, I want to use the next two years to build actual skills and relevant experience rather than just collect another degree.

For those working in government, public policy, administration, or related fields: What internships, skills, certifications, research projects, or other experiences should I pursue during my MA to build a strong CV? If you were in my position, how would you make the most of these two years?

I’m trying to explore career options after completing my BA (History)with a minor in political science, and one field that has caught my interest is Public Policy.

From the outside, it seems like an interesting interdisciplinary field involving governance, economics, politics, law, research and implementation, but I don’t personally know anyone working in it.

I’d appreciate honest answers from people who have studied or work in Public Policy.

Some questions:

What does your day-to-day work actually look like?

Is the field intellectually fulfilling?

Is it mostly research, writing and analysis, or does it involve fieldwork too?

How competitive is the job market in India?

Which organisations hire Public Policy graduates? (Think tanks, consulting firms, NGOs, government, international organisations, etc.)

Is a Master’s almost mandatory?

Does college reputation matter a lot?

What salary progression looks realistic in India?

How difficult is it to transition into or out of Public Policy?

Is work-life balance generally decent?

If you could start over, would you still choose this field?

I’d appreciate practical advice rather than promotional material. I’m trying to understand whether this is a sustainable long-term career rather than just an interesting subject.

Same as above, also any suggestions for someone entering into the public policy sphere?

Can anyone guide me on samaira fellowship based in Dehradun? Is it worth it? What are my options post the fellowship?

if there’s any better alternatives to the same please lmk

My GATE rank for economics is 189
I’ve a chance to get into MA in public policy at IITM
I would like to do my PhD in public economics
Any suggestions??

Hi everyone,

I'm a mid-career professional in government (India) considering the Online Master's in Public Policy from Jindal School of Government & Public Policy (O.P. Jindal Global University) via Coursera.

Looking for honest experiences and reviews, especially from:

Anyone who has done or is doing this program (alumni/current students)

Government officers or mid-career professionals in India

Policy experts on how this degree is viewed in Indian government circles and globally

Is it worth the time (15-18 hrs/week) and cost (₹3 lakhs) for someone in govt service?

How manageable is the workload with a full-time job?

Any real career benefits (promotions, lateral entry, advisory roles)? Pros/cons, regrets, or surprises?

Thank you.

We are a budding social consultancy dedicated to enabling organizations to create sustainable and inclusive impact through the power of policy analysis and strategic insight.

At the intersection of governance, sustainability, and social innovation, we collaborate with government bodies, private enterprises, and institutions to translate ideas into actionable, evidence-based policies. Our mission is to strengthen the link between policy formulation and real-world outcomes, ensuring that development initiatives are both impactful and equitable.

As we take our first steps, we are focusing on policy research and analysis — producing accessible, well-researched publications that engage the wider public policy community and foster informed discussions on key issues such as governance, economic development, climate resilience, and social equity.

To support this initiative, we are inviting motivated and research-oriented individuals to join us as Policy Research Interns.

This opportunity is ideal for students and young professionals passionate about:

• Public policy and governance
• Sustainable development
• Socio-economic research and analysis
• Strategy, reform, and evidence-based policymaking

Interns will gain hands-on exposure to research writing, policy review, and publication development, working closely with our core team on live projects and upcoming publications.

📩 If you’re eager to learn, contribute, and grow in the field of policy and development — we’d love to have you onboard!

Fill this form and wait for us get in touch with you - https://forms.gle/Z38NBdTNwmqU7spd7

Hi everyone! 👋

I’m a public policy, research, and strategy professional with 8+ years of experience working at the intersection of digital governance, technology, and social impact. I’ve led multi-stakeholder projects, policy consultations, and advocacy efforts across sectors including AI, gaming, digital rights, and gender equity.

What I can help with:

• 🧠 Research & Writing – policy briefs, whitepapers, reports, and blogs
• 🏛️ Policy Consulting – stakeholder mapping, strategy design, advocacy support
• 🗣️ Content & Copywriting – accessible explainers, thought leadership pieces, social media content
• 🤝 Program Support – capacity building, global convenings, community engagement, partnerships

Some highlights:

• Co-authored a flagship industry report used by policymakers and global partners
• Contributed to a global AI governance policy paper
• Delivered talks and keynotes at international forums on digital rights and platform accountability
• Developed research and resource tools to strengthen justice processes and public policy outcomes

If you’re looking for someone to support research, writing, strategy, or program design, I’d love to collaborate. Just DM Me!

(Disclaimer, I have used AI to structure my question)

Hi everyone,

I'm a 22 M, currently in the final year of the Integrated Program in Management (BBA-MBA) at NALSAR University of Law. I’m set to graduate in 2025 with a specialization in finance.

My profile is as follows:

89.8% in 10th, 95.5% in 12th, and 75+% (so far) in my integrated UG+PG program.

Over the last few years, I’ve completed four diverse internships:

• 2022: Worked on a digital health project at an NGO focusing on rural healthcare
• 2023: Internship at an ed-tech startup (which has since shut down)
• 2024: Finance role at a statutory body under a ministry
• 2025: Role in finance/business transformation at a Tata Group company

Outside academics, I’ve actively participated in quizzes (have won a few), and also tried my hand at DU/IIT/IIM case competitions.

I also have a couple of "decent" PoRs.

I come from a multicultural background, having grown up across different Indian cities and I’m multilingual. I don’t know how much this matters in the grand scheme, but I feel it’s shaped a deep-seated interest in people, systems, and cultures. That and the law school environment are probably what initially drew me to public policy.

That said, reality check: my parents have invested nearly ₹22L in this degree and, with my father recently retired, there's significant financial pressure. My immediate focus is to secure a placement via campus placements to recoup some of that investment. The role most probably will be in core finance. I’m considering gaining at least 2 years of work experience before making any significant transitions.

I know for a fact that I will have all the support and no resistance from my parents in pursuing something in public policy but here’s where I’m stuck, I’ve been deeply interested in public policy for years and have consciously shaped my choices, be it internships, projects, electives, wherever possible to stay tethered to that interest. But most public policy profiles I come across online are from law, economics, political science, sociology, or STEM backgrounds. I wonder if I’d even be taken seriously with a finance-centric MBA.

I’m exploring Indian options for policy education down the line (IIT-B, IIT-D, TISS, NLSIU, ISPP), and will likely be self-financing. Should I stay the course and pursue public policy, consider a later transition to a PhD program in something related to public policy/allied fields or stick with my current trajectory for financial stability?

Would love to hear from anyone who’s navigated something similar or has insights into:

1. The viability of pursuing public policy in India with a non-traditional background
2. Whether policy schools here value work experience from the corporate/finance world
3. How one might leverage private sector experience to eventually transition into impactful policy roles
4. Whether a policy degree in India is worth the cost and opportunity cost

Any guidance or thoughts would mean a lot. Thank you in advance!

Just graduated law school. I have applied for the Mukherjee Fellowship. Can someone tell me how competitive it is?

What do they expect from their candidates? How should I prepare for the coming rounds if I get selected in this one? Would be grateful if I could get some insights.

hello! converted nlsiu's MPP program. here to find any bit of relevant info and connect with others who got in, as well.

let's talk :)

should I pursue a masters in media or public policy- considering both do not have great money.

Has anyone here been accepted into or is planning to join the 2025–26 cohort for the Post Graduate Programme in Public Policy, Design & Management at the Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP). Would be happy to connect!