Catalyst alumnus Souma’s co-authored report released by Union Minister Shri Piyush Goyal

Catalyst alumnus Souma Sekhar Gangopadhyay (Senior Associate, PwC) along with Devna Joshi and Abhiir Bhalla co-authored a significant report called “The India Opportunity: Developing Resilient Electronics Supply Chain” with contributions from Srividya Krishnan and Khyati Bhatnagar that was released by Mr. Piyush Goyal, the Honourable Minister of Commerce and Industries of the Government of India and Sanjeev Krishnan, Chairman, PwC India at Raisina Dialogue of 2024 in collaboration with Observer Research Foundation (ORF). Jhanvi Tripathi, Amoha Basrur, Aditya Bhan and Soumya Bhowmick were the authors from ORF.

Souma was mentored at Catalyst for a career in the social sector while he was pursuing Bachelors in English Literature at Scottish Church Kolkata. He was selected for Masters in Public Policy at Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Here’s a summary and analysis of the report :

Overview:

1. Global Uncertainty: Geopolitical realignments and supply chain disruptions have created global economic uncertainty, revealing vulnerabilities due to overreliance on a few countries for critical materials and products.
2. India’s ESDM Sector: India’s ESDM sector has grown significantly, particularly in mobile phone production, due to competitive advantages like competitive wages, a skilled workforce, and favorable geopolitical positioning.
3. Challenges and Opportunities: Dependence on foreign materials emphasizes the need for reliable sourcing. The text suggests a multi-faceted approach involving collaborations, resource security measures, IP protection, and policy interventions.

Key Findings:

1. Attractiveness of India: Competitive wages, skilled workforce, and geopolitical factors make India an attractive manufacturing destination, especially for ESDM.
2. Strategic Collaborations: Collaboration with other countries can help relocate sub-component value chains, allowing India to develop niche advantages and achieve self-reliance.
3. Resource Security: Securing critical mineral resources is crucial for achieving value chain localization in electronics. Leveraging India’s mineral reserves and building partnerships with friendly countries is essential.
4. Multi-pronged Approach: A comprehensive strategy is needed, focusing on technology, talent, infrastructure, and trade to strengthen India’s position in the ESDM sector.

Way Forward:

1. Diversification Strategies: On-shoring, near-shoring, and friend-shoring are emphasized for value chain security. The text suggests that India is moving towards these strategies due to the criticality of the ESDM sector for economic growth and employment.
2. Strategic Partnerships: Given India’s vulnerability, strategic international partnerships are crucial, especially for securing mineral resources. Careful selection of dependable partners for the next decade is highlighted.
3. Investment in Partners: In addition to building domestic capabilities, India needs to invest in its international partners. The text emphasizes the importance of choosing partners who are dependable and can contribute to cohesive regional development.
4. Consideration of Geopolitical Risks: Geopolitical risks and external shocks will continue to influence trade policy. India must choose partners with a focus on long-term growth and stability.

Conclusion:

The next decade is crucial for India’s ESDM sector, and a proactive and diversified approach is recommended to navigate global uncertainties. Strategic partnerships, resource security, and a focus on building domestic capabilities are key components of the suggested roadmap. The text underscores the need for careful decision-making in choosing dependable partners for a cohesive development journey.

Source : https://www.pwc.in/industrial-development-and-investment-promotion/the-india-opportunity-developing-resilient-electronics-supply-chains.html

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The Master of Arts in Public Policy and Governance program at the School of Public Policy and Governance, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, is designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to become effective global policymakers. Here’s an overview of the program:

Program Highlights:

1. Duration: The program spans two years, providing a comprehensive understanding of policy frameworks and their application in socio-political and economic contexts.
2. Objective: The primary objective is to develop students’ abilities to analyze, design, and evaluate policies. This involves studying policy institutions and processes, assessing policy impacts through data analysis and qualitative insights, and engaging with diverse policy settings to formulate effective solutions.
3. Key Focus Areas:
   • Policy Architecture: Understanding and designing policy frameworks and processes.
   • Policy Evaluation: Assessing policy impact using both micro and big data, along with qualitative field insights.
   • Policy Design: Acquiring the acumen to design policies and solutions tailored to diverse contexts.
4. Principled Policy Recommendations: The program emphasizes making informed policy recommendations grounded in principles of equity, justice, and sustainability.
5. Real-World Experience: The second year of the program is dedicated to acquiring real-world experience. Students undertake capstone projects in their chosen Policy Area Concentration, allowing them to apply their knowledge and skills to practical policy research and interventions.

Program Structure:

1. First Year: Focuses on building foundational knowledge in policy analysis, frameworks, and evaluation techniques.
2. Second Year: Emphasizes hands-on experience through capstone projects in students’ chosen Policy Area Concentrations.

Unique Features:

1. Global Perspective: The program prepares students to engage with policy institutions at both global and local levels, fostering a global perspective on policymaking.
2. Multidisciplinary Approach: Integrates micro and big data analysis with qualitative field insights, providing a holistic understanding of policy dynamics.
3. Ethical and Sustainable Policy: Highlights the importance of embedding policy recommendations in principles of equity, justice, and sustainability.

About Catalyst: Since 2011, students and working professionals have been able to successfully craft a career with Bachelors and Masters programmes offered by TISS, Azim Premji University, TERI, XIM, IIT, Nirmala Niketan, NLSIU, Sciences Po, London School of Economics and Political Science, Symbiosis, IIMC, ACJ, XIC, JNU, Ambedkar University et al with capacity building training for development sector and climate action at Catalyst.

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