Bharti Institute of Public Policy welcomed the ninth cohort of its flagship Advanced Management Programeme in Public Policy (AMPPP) on August 9 and hosted the inaugural session for the batch at the Indian School of Business, Mohali Campus.

The new cohort consists of 52 participants, including 30 % women participants. With diverse educational backgrounds, the cohort boasts of 16% IAS, 7% IPS, 20% Indian Revenue Service, 11% Indian Railway Service, 2% Punjab state civil services, and 11% development sector participants. The cohort also consists of 24 % corporate sector participants besides others from PSUs, Business houses, politics, etc. The average work experience of the cohort is about 17 + years.

 Professor Anjal Prakash, Clinical Associate Professor (Research) & Research Director, BIPP, delivered the keynote address. Welcoming the cohort, in his address, Professor Prakash highlighted the key aspects of the Programme, emphasising the five Ps- Pedigree, Personality Development, Politics & Influence, Policy Expertise, and Patrimony & Legacy.

Addressing the participants, Professor Ashwini Chhatre, Associate Professor & Executive Director, BIPP, spoke about the evolving nature of learning and personal growth within educational environments, emphasising the need for continuous development and adaptation.

DNV Kumara Guru, Senior Director - Advancement, Alumni Engagement, and External Relations, Indian School of Business explained ISB’s global impact, underscoring the legacy and global reach of ISB's alumni network with over 18,800 members across 71 countries. 

The inaugural event also included a special session by Manjari Jaruhar, IPS (Retd.), former Special Director General, CISF, and Bihar’s first woman IPS officer on ‘Transforming Challenges into Opportunities in the Indian Police Service: My Personal Journey’. 

Steven A Block, Professor of International Economics; Agriculture, Food and Environment, Friedman; Economics, Arts and Sciences, The Fletcher School, Tufts University, delivered a talk on ‘Why can't three billion people afford a healthy diet?’, highlighting the deepening crisis at the intersection of climate change and food security.   

The first residency of the cohort was held from August 9^th-18^th at the ISB Mohali campus. The residency included three guest speaker sessions and two workshops.

• August 11:  Steven block, Professor, International Economics, Agriculture, Food and Environment; Friedman Economics, Arts and Sciences, The Fletcher School, Tufts University, held a session on ‘Food Price and Electoral Cycles’. In his session, Prof. Block delved into the intersection of political business cycle theory and agricultural policy, particularly focusing on how politicians manipulate food prices around elections to gain electoral advantage. He explained that this theory has evolved over time, with different models suggesting variations in how politicians act and how voters perceive these actions. In some models, politicians are opportunistic, focusing solely on staying in office, while in others, they may have ideological preferences that influence their policies. He also discussed how in democratic settings, where rural populations have significant voting power, politicians may lower food prices before elections to gain favour with their voters. He highlighted several examples from various countries, exhibiting how leaders used food price adjustments as a tool to secure votes. He concluded his session by presenting data and analysis showing patterns of food price changes before elections in different regions, particularly in democracies with rural majorities.
• August 12: Tejveer Singh, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Local Government, Industries and Commerce, and Information Technology, Government of Punjab, held a session on ‘Public Policy - from praxis to theory’. In his session, he shared his insights on public policy, governance, and the role of government. Acknowledging the diverse background of the AMPPP participants, he emphasised the importance of using the course as an opportunity to influence government policy, whether from within or from an external perspective. He also highlighted the value of taking a break from professional work to reflect on how theory can inform practice, suggesting that understanding the theoretical underpinnings of governance can provide clarity and insight. His session revolved around the debate on whether the government is a solution to problems or a problem itself. He presented contrasting viewpoints, illustrated by historical quotes from U.S. presidents Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama, reflecting on the changing perspectives towards the role of government. Singh also touched upon the inscription at the Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore, "Government work is God's work," suggesting that government actions are often perceived as sacred or beyond reproach. In defining public policy, Singh stressed that it involves government action to commit resources in support of a preferred value or outcome, often influenced by political ideas and ideologies. He explained that public policy is about making choices that reflect the government’s priorities and addressing market failures, such as public goods, externalities, information asymmetry, and monopolies. He also introduced the concept of "government failure," where government intervention can sometimes cause more harm than the problem it aims to solve. Citing economist George Stigler, Singh noted that government actions can have unintended consequences, making the case for cautious and well-considered policy decisions.
• August 17: Kalpana Dube, IRAS (R), Former Chief of Faculty Finance, National Academy of Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways, held a special session on ‘Infrastructure Financing- Beyond the Numbers’. In her session, she emphasised the significant focus on infrastructure development in India, highlighting flagship programmes like the National Infrastructure Pipeline, National Logistics Plan, and monetisation efforts. These initiatives are seen as crucial for driving India's economic growth. Despite notable improvements, such as better turnaround times for ships and enhanced logistics efficiency, she acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly in the railway sector, where investments often fail to deliver timely or cost-effective results. She discussed how the Indian government funds infrastructure through various channels, including gross budgetary support, internal and external resources, private investment, and international funding. However, she pointed out the need for more developed domestic capital markets to reduce reliance on external funding. She also raised concerns about the decline in social sector expenditure, warning that an overemphasis on physical infrastructure at the expense of health, education, and social services could threaten the sustainability of these developments. She concluded her session stating that India is making significant strides in infrastructure development and stressed the importance of balancing physical and social infrastructure investment, ensuring timely project completion, and adopting sustainable financing methods to ensure future success.

WORKSHOPS

• August 14: Vivek Atray, Former IAS, Motivational Speaker, Author, Mentor, Advisor, and Columnist, in his workshop on ‘Science of Happiness: Insights for Leaders’, introduced the idea that true happiness is not derived from external achievements like promotions or accolades but from internal contentment and the positive impact one has on others. He delved on the contrasts between transient happiness, like the joy of indulging in one’s favourite food with lasting happiness, which comes from within. He also touched upon the concept of emotional intelligence, defining it as the ability to handle people and situations calmly and with balance. Citing Daniel Goleman’s work on emotional intelligence, he stressed upon self-awareness, empathy, and self-regulation as crucial traits for effective leadership. He also conducted an in-class poll, asking participants questions to share how often they lose their temper, and encouraged introspection on the triggers leading to their emotional reactions.
• August 14: Radhakrishnan Pillai, Director, Chanakya International Institute of Leadership Studies, University of Mumbai, held a workshop on ‘Chanakya's Wisdom: Mastering Leadership and Stress Management’. Dr. Radhakrishnan Pillai's lecture presented a contemporary interpretation of the teachings of Chanakya, the ancient Indian philosopher and strategist. In his lecture, Dr. Pillai explored Chanakya’s teachings and their relevance in overcoming modern-day challenges. One of the key themes highlighted in the workshop was the importance of practical wisdom and strategic thinking. Dr. Pillai discussed the importance of self-discipline and self-control, which are central to Chanakya's teachings. In conclusion, the workshop effectively bridged ancient wisdom and contemporary relevance. By interpreting Chanakya's teachings in the contemporary times, Dr. Pillai provided a practical guide for personal development, leadership, and ethical living.