Category: Article

Originally published in Hindustan Times As a key component of the Green Revolution policy framework, groundwater irrigation played a crucial role in averting the food crises of the late 1960s and prevented the country sliding into a Malthusian trap. Groundwater in Punjab, once a common resource, now exemplifies the “tragedy of the commons”. As per […]

We are pleased to release our new discussion paper, ‘Empowering Small Farmers Through Water Conservation: A policy roadmap for Punjab and Haryana’. It explores policy solutions to tackle the growing water scarcity issues faced by farmers in Punjab and Haryana, offering both short-term and long-term strategies to ensure equitable access to water and promote sustainable […]

We are pleased to release the discussion paper from our latest colloquium on Land Acquisition in Punjab: Development and Livelihoods held at Panjab University on 17 January 2025. The paper summarises the points highlighted by our esteemed speakers during their addresses. Read the complete paper.

For a long time now, unemployment and underemployment have remained two of the key issues in Punjab’s development question. The India Employment Report 2024 by the International Labour Organisation and the Institute for Human Development created an employment condition index which showed that for Punjab, the index was 0.45 in 2005 which in 2022 stood […]

Originally published in Hindustan Times Land acquisition, a cornerstone of economic development, remains a contentious and inadequately addressed issue in Punjab. Despite its critical role in enabling infrastructure, housing, and industrial projects, the governance aspects and economic implications of land acquisition have often been overlooked. This neglect has resulted in significant policy gaps, exacerbating challenges […]

Originally published in The Tribune Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) have the potential to revolutionise infrastructure development, and services delivery by blending private sector capital and expertise with public sector oversight. For Punjab, which has over 147 PPP projects worth ₹59,358 crore in critical sectors like roads, bridges, healthcare, and education, this model could be the key […]

Inspired by the insights of economists like Böhm-Bawerk and von Mises on capital’s role at the intersection of economics and finance, a compelling framework for understanding fiscal challenges takes shape. This approach encourages synergies in economic decision-making and accounting practices, while also treating money as a social institution. When applied to Punjab’s fiscal crisis (a […]

Originally published on Babushahi.com Punjab is traditionally known for producing both, leading sportsmen and sports equipment. Sports like Kabaddi and Weightlifting originated in the “akhadas” of Punjab. From shuttlecocks and footballs to cricket bats, Jalandhar has developed as the epicenter of sports production in India. The recently concluded 2024 Olympics saw one of the highest […]

Punjab’s agricultural crisis is a ticking time bomb that threatens the very foundations of the state’s economy and the well-being of its people. As water tables plummet and soil fertility declines, the once-thriving breadbasket of India — Punjab — is now on the brink of an environmental and humanitarian disaster. An examination of Punjab’s agricultural […]

Originally published in The Telegraph In a bid to accelerate the adoption of solar energy across residential and commercial uses nationally, the Government of India recently declared its intent to hire and train nearly one lakh individuals for the installation process. This is in line with the Government’s larger mission of encouraging adoption of solar […]