Vision and mission
Policy Advisory and Network for Joint Progress (PANJ) Foundation is a non-partisan independent research think-tank based out of Punjab, India. PANJ was established in February 2024 and is registered as a not-for-profit under Section 8 of the Companies Act and has a provisional 80G/12AA certification.
We provide research-based inputs and consultations to ensure socio-economic growth of Punjab. By working as a collaborative front for initiating institutional and policy reform in the state of Punjab, we use our connection and familiarity with the lands of Punjab to inform reforms that ensure greatest benefits for its citizens. Through research, we aim at informing policy and institutional reform recommendations.
Our approach involves thorough examination, analysis, and elaboration of political, economic, and legal considerations. Our analysis is rooted in a well-rounded understanding of the state-context. Our public policy outputs are research and evidence driven, providing pragmatic and innovative solutions. Currently, we have limited our focus to identifying policy and regulatory roadblocks to growth in three areas—sustainable resource management, development, and governance.
Our core activities
To the end of ensuring a better Punjab, we generate insights on issues pertinent to Punjab. We are focused particularly in the areas of sustainable resource management, governance, and development, and use the insights from research and analysis to influence policy decisions. At present PANJ operates across three verticals namely:
1. Policy Research: Under this initiative we are involved in researching issues and themes specific to Punjab which are critical in shaping policy discourse of the state. Further, we envision providing advisory & consultancy services to the state government to arrive at better suited reforms for the people. As a part of this idea, we intend to take up a project on the Agro-processing sector in Punjab over the next three years.
2. Legislative Support: Research support and legislative aid are essential instruments that enable legislators to function efficiently. An analysis of the 16th Punjab Legislative Assembly from 2022 – till present, reveals a stark difference in the legislative performance of Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from Punjab compared to the other states. Per data, the average number of questions asked by Punjab’s MLAs since 2021 is only 18 during each session of the house, against a total of 117 members. PANJ foundation is creating a P-LAB (Punjab Legislative Assistance Bank), which would comprise young researchers, who will provide legislative and policy aid to MLAs. P-LAB Fellows will primarily aim to fill this void in order to address the research vacuum that an MLA faces in their day to day functioning.
3. Policy Advocacy: As a youth-led organisation, we aim to advance a network of young professionals and youth organisations to develop a forum for discussing the challenges faced by Punjab through different mediums like podcasts, young researcher symposium, and stakeholder consultations.
Vision
Strengthening institutions and ensuring better lives for the citizens of Punjab.
Mission
Undertaking reforms to ensure higher living standards for the average Punjabi citizen by 2047.
Our Advisors
Mr Suresh Kumar (Retd IAS)
Mr Suresh Kumar served as the Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Punjab from 2017 to 2021. An officer of the IAS (Punjab cadre), he joined the service in 1983. Over the course of his career, Mr Kumar has held various key positions at both central and state levels, where he led and managed reforms, business process re-engineering, and pro-poor development initiatives.
Prof RS Ghuman
Professor Ranjit Singh Ghuman is a distinguished economist renowned for his extensive research in rural development, public policy, and socio-economic issues in India. He currently holds the position of Professor of Eminence at the Punjab School of Economics, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar. He has held prominent academic positions, including Professor and Head of the Department of Economics at Punjabi University, Patiala.
Prof BS Ghuman
Prof. Ghuman dedicated over 38 years to academia. Prof. Ghuman also served as the Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala. His scholarly work encompasses over 100 research papers and three books, focusing on areas such as governance, regulatory administration, food security, educational administration, public policy, poverty, sustainable development, decentralization, economic administration, and public enterprises.
Max Reynolds
Max Reynolds is the co-founder of the Reynolds Foundation, where he serves as Grant and Relationship Management Program Director and a member of the Advisory Council. With a commitment to education, economic development, and sustainable practices, Max plays a pivotal role in advancing the foundation’s mission to empower communities and foster human flourishing. Previously, Max worked as a researcher at The Democracy Lab in Costa Rica, leading a study on education, development, and the impact of the narco-economy on youth.
Dr. Álvaro Salas-Castro
Dr. Álvaro Salas-Castro is a Costa Rican scholar, business executive, and philanthropist who serves as the President and CEO of the Reynolds Foundation. Throughout his career, Dr. Salas-Castro has served as a senior management consultant to Fortune 500 companies and advised family offices, governments, academic institutions, and corporations. He is the founder of the Democracy Lab Foundation (DemoLab), focusing on strengthening democratic institutions and practices.
Dr Jatinder Kaur Arora
Dr. Jatinder Kaur Arora is a distinguished Indian scientist and policy leader with over 35 years of experience in science, technology, and innovation. Currently, Dr. Arora serves as the Advisor to PI-RAHI (Panjab University–IIT Ropar Regional Accelerator for Holistic Innovations), India’s first regional science and technology cluster. Dr. Arora is also recognized for her grassroots efforts in women’s empowerment. She has worked to economically uplift rural women by promoting the cultivation of aromatic plants in the Shivalik foothills.
Our Team
Individuals making the vision possible
Anmol Rattan Singh
Co-Founder; Policy Lead
Anmol Rattan Singh is PhD Research Scholar at the Department of Public Administration, Panjab University, Chandigarh. He holds a postgraduate degree in Public Policy and Governance. Previously, he has worked alongside Members of Parliament, providing assistance in legislative and policy research.
Sehaj Singh
Co-Founder; Program Lead
Sehaj Singh is Public policy associate at the office of a Hon’ble Member of Parliament. He is a former LAMP fellow of Batch 2022-23, wherein he assited senior parliamentarians with legislative and policy research. He holds a degree in Political Science Honours from University of Delhi.
Dr Deepratan Singh
Research Lead
Dr Deepratan’s research focuses on agricultural economics, groundwater governance, and rural development, with a strong emphasis on policy-driven change. He holds a PhD on Dynamics of Groundwater Irrigation in Punjab and Haryana: Institutions, Markets, and Management from Panjab University, Chandigarh. He has published in reputed journals and actively contributes to local dailies, offering insights on governance, land acquisition, and agricultural reforms. Through his research and writing, he aims to bridge academic insights with practical policy solutions for sustainable development.
Dr Harleen Gill
Research Fellow
Dr Harleen Gill is a researcher and educationist specialising in migration, remittances, gendered mobility, and population studies. She holds a PhD from Panjab University, Chandigarh, with her doctoral research, ‘Transnational Economic Practices in Contemporary Punjab: An Analysis of Drivers and Dividends of International Out-Migration’, examining the socio-economic effects of migration. She explores how migration influences household finances, labour dynamics, and transnational networks. Committed to policy-relevant research, she actively contributes to migration and development studies.
Agastya Shukla
Program Associate
Agastya Shukla is a law student at Panjab University, Chandigarh, with a keen interest in the intersection of law and public policy. His experience spans diverse areas, including foreign policy, international economic law, economics, and policy research.