Publications

Gujarat’s Electricity Sector - The Fairy Tale Revival

Research Paper
| October 16, 2020

This paper details the major steps taken by the state of Gujarat in India to bring about the transformation in the rural electricity sector and provides a learning opportunity to other sector stakeholders from India and overseas. The paper attempts to unravel how did an inefficient state electric utility transform itself into one of India’s most high-performing electricity distribution companies? What are the factors that worked and what were those conditions that enabled the government to succeed in Gujarat?

COVID-19 and nutrition: How the pandemic induced a much-awaited behavioural change

Article
| October 15, 2020

A balanced diet and nutrition can act as an effective prophylactic measure against the COVID-19 infection. A positive behavioural change in our eating habits during lockdown must be sustained beyond the pandemic to ensure its long term positive impacts.

Shaping the Post-COVID-19 Development Paradigm in India: Some Imperatives for Greening the Economic Recovery

Research Paper
| October 14, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown many challenges for governments across the globe. Building on an initial understanding of the fallouts of the pandemic and the learning from the coping and management responses so far, this article first identifies some necessary elements and notions critical in shaping the post-pandemic development paradigm. The article also examines India’s post-COVID-19 economic package to understand the gaps and the elements we need to build further on for greening the economic recovery.

The need for re-strategising climate policies in the new-normal scenario

Article
| October 13, 2020

The authors take a brief look at the present status of India's climate commitments, the implications of these recovery packages in the post COVID-19 crises, and the road ahead for clean and green development.

Improving reliability for underserved communities: How lessons from Nigeria could strengthen the Indian electricity grid

Article
| October 12, 2020

Designed to help address the millions of customers who remain underserved in Nigeria, the undergrid model has wide-reaching implications for countries – worldwide – particularly countries like India, where reliable last-mile supply of electricity continues to be a challenge.

The Fascinating World of Butterflies: And the Need for their Conservation

Article
| October 12, 2020

We need butterflies because they are the bio-indicators and can sense the slightest alteration in an ecosystem. We should all come together and join hands to conserve these magnificent creatures.

हाथियों के डर से बेख़ौफ़ हुए असम के गाँव: सोलर ने दी आज़ादी

Article
| October 8, 2020

सौर स्ट्रीट लाइट से असम के गाँव में रहने वाले इन लोगों की ज़िंदगी में बदलाव आए हैं। गाँव में नई दुकानें खुल गयी हैं। जिससे लोगों को रोज़गार के अवसर भी मिले हैं। महिलाएं सुरक्षित महसूस करती हैं।

A coevolutionary perspective on decentralised electrification: a solar mini-grid project in India

Research Paper
| October 2, 2020

Decentralised mini-grids can support household electrification needs in remote rural communities in developing countries. Adopting a practice-oriented perspective to research, we describe our experience in implementing a decentralised solar mini-grid project in India over a period of three years. Focusing on processes, we demonstrate how technical design, organisational mandates and project contingencies coevolve with business strategies, user practices, local institutions and ecosystems.

A Template for Long-range Energy Planning with Environmental Considerations for Developing Countries: A Case Study

Research Paper
| October 2, 2020

Existing studies using energy accounting models do not undertake analyses at the subnational level due to data deficiencies. In a Lakatosian sense, by applying the long-range energy alternatives planning framework at the sub-national level for a developing country, this paper contributes by providing an empirical study to the body of knowledge on energy planning. This study addresses this gap by developing scenarios for energy demand and supply management for green growth in the state of Punjab in India.

Global Climate Change: Challenges for India

Research Paper
| September 24, 2020

The global climate change is a huge existential threat to the world which requires urgent and immediate actions by the entire international community. India as a signatory to the Paris Agreement has an opportunity of influencing the global efforts when it assumes the presidency of G20 in 2022. India will need to respond to global expectations for enhanced actions while building consensus within G20 for low carbon transitions.