ISPP Research Centres: Strengthening India’s Policy Landscape Through Evidence-Based Research

At the Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP), research is a commitment to solving real-world problems. Our Research Centres are the engines of that mission: spaces where evidence meets practice, where knowledge translates into action, and where India’s most pressing policy challenges are addressed with clarity, rigour, and vision.

Each Centre is led by domain experts and brings together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to advance ideas that matter. Together, they embody ISPP purpose: to create sound public policy rooted in evidence, impact, and public good.

Here’s a closer look at how each Centre is shaping India’s policy future.

Centre for Universal Health Assurance (CUHA)

CUHA has been established to drive India’s momentum towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Conceived as a hub of research, innovation, and policy dialogue, CUHA brings together a multidisciplinary team of experts in health systems, health finance, and health policy to reimagine how healthcare can be made truly universal.

CUHA’s mission is to build a healthcare system that is effective, equitable, empathetic, and economically efficient. The Centre develops solutions to strengthen primary healthcare, improve the affordability of medicines and diagnostics, leverage technology to expand access, and promote public financing for assured financial protection. CUHA also advances multi-sectoral policies for health promotion and disease prevention, while enabling communities to take informed health action.

ISPP Centre for Urban Transitions (ICUT)

India’s cities are pivotal to the nation’s future. They will drive economic growth, deliver jobs for its young population, and determine the country’s progress towards climate commitments. Yet, city planning and management in India still rely on outdated, colonial-era systems that cannot keep pace with today’s urban challenges. What is needed is innovative thinking, context-specific solutions, and modern approaches to urban governance.

ICUT addresses India’s urban challenges by generating research-driven solutions and innovative approaches for city planning and governance. The Centre bridges old-time frameworks with India’s contemporary urban realities and develops capacity-building programmes for professionals across samaaj, sarkaar and bazaar. These programmes equip leaders with the daily management skills required to keep cities dynamic, resilient, and inclusive.

By strengthening the operational capabilities of urban local bodies, ICUT positions India’s cities as engines of growth, innovation, and sustainable development, critical to achieving the country’s ambition of a $30 trillion economy.

Indian Network For Economic Research (INER)

India’s economic landscape is transforming rapidly, yet the country lacks a dedicated, networked institution for rigorous economic research-the kind that connects academia, informs policy, and builds capacity at scale.

INER aims to revolutionise India’s economic research space through a networked, data-driven, and policy-centric approach. The Centre bridges structural gaps between data and policy, academia and government, and national and international scholars, while promoting open-access research and giving voice to young economists. By co-creating policy insights and fostering collaboration across governments, universities, and civil society, INER strengthens India’s role in shaping economic ideas globally, particularly from a Global South perspective.

Case Study and Research Centre (CSRC)

CSRC converts real-world policy challenges into engaging, practical learning resources. By producing high-quality case studies focused on governance, public policy, and administration in India, the Centre enables learners to critically analyse problems, evaluate alternatives, and derive actionable insights.

CSRC collaborates with government bodies, think tanks, research institutions, and private organisations, supporting initiatives like the Capacity Building Commission’s Innovations in Public Administration Challenge and NITI Aayog’s regulatory mapping of homestays. Through these efforts, CSRC bridges theory with practice, offering context-rich learning for students, practitioners, and civil servants.

Together, ISPP Research Centres represent a bold vision for India’s policy future. From health systems to economic clarity, urban governance to policy pedagogy, they ensure that India’s challenges are studied with depth and addressed with actionable solutions.

In the future, these Centres will continue to serve as hubs where evidence informs decision-making, research builds capacity, and knowledge is mobilised for the public good.