A Career in Public Policy : Emerging trends in India

Public policy as a career option has taken off in India with momentum. The desire to create a positive impact in the lives of billions is a good enough reason for youth to shun other cash rich opportunities and turn towards this social impact sector.

The moot part is the curriculum for public policy is in its infancy. There are colleges like IIM/ISB's which run courses on public policy, but there is an entry barrier for sure in terms of financial capabilities for an aspiring student from a not so wealthy background.

Recently, I advised a linkedin connect to work as an intern in a panchayat office and he tried it, bingo !!! He landed up as the first intern in a panchayat. The best way to learn the public policy discourse is by getting your hands dirty in the actual implementation of developmental projects and schemes and no better place than a panchayat to start with.

With aspirants of public policy careers wanting to end up in the BIG 4, the start should always be in the panchayats where the cutting edge of public policy impact is felt. Until and unless one gets the pulse of the policy impact at the grass root level, there is no way one can contribute better in higher echelons of public policy who are working outside the government.

There are ample domains to work with be it education,health, environment, SDG's and economic development and the list goes on. The scope and mandate of public policy consulting/ impact consulting is huge. One needs to have a service mindset and an outlook to create a positive impact with purpose so that nation building is impacted in the right way.

If you want to make an impact and be a part of influencing multi disciplinary policy decisions, do take the steps of venturing into this space where the need for good people with a noble outlook to serve is being felt.

Views expressed are personal.