SPRFDriving evidence-based policy change. We deliver impactful, non-partisan research across economics, governance, environment & climate change, foreign & defense policy, and human rights & law, focusing on monitoring and evaluating policy progress in crucial areas impacting society. We bridge the gap between research and public policy.
The Social Impact Design Fellowship is an yearly fellowship programme by SPRF India that introduces students and early-career researchers to design as a tool for research communication. Recognising that the impact of research depends not only on the quality of evidence but also on how effectively it is communicated, the fellowship equips participants with the […]
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Project Periodica is SPRF India’s school- and community-based intervention aimed at rethinking how menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) is communicated to young adolescents in India. While menstrual health policies and schemes have expanded over the past decade, conversations around menstruation remain limited by stigma, uneven implementation, and an over-reliance on didactic, classroom-based approaches. At its […]
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This project seeks to explore the nuances of the Indian welfare state, and draw comparisons between the welfare approaches taken by different governments at the state and centre. Particularly, the project will involve exploring the political environment during which major welfare regimes and institutions were created, the management of these institutions by the central and state governments and the political economy of welfare in Indian public life.
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The year 2030 was once envisioned with hope and anticipation. The global consensus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) carried the expectation of significant improvements in human development, reflected in greater equity, reduced poverty, and improved quality of life, fostering optimism that the world would become a more just and equitable place. As we approach […]
Introduction The recently concluded India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is a landmark deal in the growing strategic partnership between the two countries across wide-ranging industries including fintech, renewable energy, education, and even film production. A key aspect of this revitalised economic relationship is the ‘India-UK Vision 2035’, a roadmap for renewed defence partnership, forging a […]
Overview India’s law enforcement and internal security agencies are increasingly integrating AI into their daily operations, moving beyond initial pilot projects and experiments. This change is especially clear in areas like responding to cybercrime, finding financial fraud, and extensive surveillance. AI is not only improving existing systems in these areas, but it is also starting […]
Introduction Gig work is often presented as a hallmark of “platform capitalism,” where technology firms organise labour into on-demand tasks through smartphone applications (Saxena, 2026). India has over 7.7 million gig workers and this number is expected to grow fourfolds by 2029–30, with the sector potentially contributing 1.2% to the country’s GDP. According to the […]
Executive Summary Menstrual health is now seen as an important part of adolescent health, gender equality, and school participation. In India, even though more young people have improved access to menstrual hygiene products, many still face stigma, misunderstandings, and few chances to talk openly about menstruation. To help address these issues, the Social Policy Research […]
Policy-making in rural areas faces key challenges like poor infrastructure, lack of sanitation, healthcare, and employment opportunities, agriculture-rated issues, and social inequality. The economic and social well-being of rural communities is at the forefront of rural policy in India. Rural development programmes also face multiple barriers to implementation. At SPRF, we take a look at the ways in which policy-making can impact rural development and livelihood, and the access, delivery and connectivity concerns that still plague rural India.
Out of every ₹100 India spends, less than ₹4 goes to rural development. Of that, barely 40 paise supports rural women’s skill based livelihoods, where nationally 100 women depend on a single trainer to learn the skills meant to transform their incomes. From early morning chores to long hours in the fields, rural women across […]
Introduction The Indian state’s role and responsibility in ensuring rural workers’ livelihoods have been revived with the introduction of the VB G RAM G Bill, which was prompted by the issue of the MNREGA program facing rollout gaps, wage non-paying delays, pressure typified by actual allocation levels, as well as requests for increased administrative oversight over […]
Introduction India has made significant strides in rural electrification, addressing energy poverty and its unique socio-economic development. In line with its global commitments to ‘ensuring access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy for all’, India led with key interventions, including the Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, also known as the Saubhagya Scheme. The […]
Unfortunately, around 800,000 of these abortions are unsafe, contributing significantly to maternal mortality, despite the legal framework established by the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act. This highlights the persistent barriers rural women face in accessing safe sexual health services, particularly due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure compared to urban areas. This indicator is a critical measure of gender equality and women’s empowerment, particularly in the context of sexual and reproductive health rights .
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We travelled to Kolakaluru village, almost 20 km from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, to learn about pottery. By noon, the entire place felt made of heat. Our minds could only echo one question: what does it mean to work next to fire in a summer that already feels like fire? The Kummari community of Kolakaluru […]
arrow_outwardThe term Shershabadi (original Shershabadia) has direct reference to the community’s place of origin, i.e., the former Jawar-e-Sarsabad, which comprised parts of Murshidabad, Malda in West Bengal, and Sahibganj district in Jharkhand.
Owing to various social, political, and environmental reasons, they migrated from their place of origin, and are now settled in Kishanganj and its neighbouring districts, in Bihar. Originally a community of settled agriculturists, they slowly dispersed along the river banks and tried to make a living through cultivation.
arrow_outwardThe photo story captures the neighbourhood which falls under the administration of Tiruchirappalli City Municipal Corporation and is navigating complex ecological, geographical, and governance problems.
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