Why Study Public Policy? What Makes It Important Now More Than Ever?

Introduction to Public Policy

Public policy is a system of laws, regulatory measures, guidelines, and funding priorities identified by governments or their representatives to fulfil public interest goals.

From its inception to evaluation, any public policy evolves through an iterative process. Since this process involves mobilising many actors and resources, the resulting public policy is always an outcome of negotiating across competing interests and choices.

This also means that public policies are constantly evolving. Who benefits or gets affected by policies requires frequent assessment, so policymakers regularly revisit and revise policies to reflect the times. For instance, in 2020, India introduced a revamped New Education Policy (NEP), which included many new features, such as guidelines on using ed-tech in classes. This policy replaced the NEP introduced in 1986.

Conceptually, the life-cycle of a public policy involves six stages:

1. Agenda-setting: In this stage, needs and priorities are identified. Multiple actors outside the government may also be involved in presenting issues or plans of action that require attention. At this stage, the policy problem to be addressed gets defined.
2. Policy formulation: A policy intervention gets structured at this stage, including planning out implementation logistics. Civil servants are crucial to drafting policy plans. Domain experts from non-government sectors may be consulted for shaping policies.
3. Policy adoption: The policy may require regulations or legislation to be passed so Parliamentarians get involved. If it is a national policy, state governments are required to prepare the state machinery to implement the new public policy.
4. Implementation: Policy implementation and monitoring require clear coordination across government and non-government agencies. Media channels may be used to inform citizens of the new policy and programmes that are created to implement the policy.
5. Evaluation: Regular assessments follow the implementation stage to see whether policy objectives are met. Evaluations are conducted by government agencies and external actors, such as donor agencies and research firms.
6. Policy maintenance: Any changes to the policy based on its performance are made at this stage

Summary

Public policy is a system of laws, regulatory measures, guidelines, and funding priorities identified by governments or their representatives to fulfil public interest goals. Public policy evolves over time and has six stages in its life cycle, spanning from agenda-setting to policy maintenance.

Register your Interest to Study at ISPP

Importance of Public Policy

There are multiple stakeholders involved in formulating a public policy that spans the Sarkar (government), Bazaar (market) and Samaj (society). The three branches of the government – the legislature (Parliament), the executive (government and its Council of Ministers), and the judiciary (Supreme Court) are the main architects of public policies in India.

In India, state governments play a significant role in planning and implementing public policies through programmes or schemes. Chief Ministers, other elected legislators, civil servants at all levels of the government, and domain experts (e.g., from health, education and transport) contribute heavily at different stages of the policy cycle.

Large donor agencies that support programme implementation play an essential role in deciding where funds are allocated. Non-government stakeholders such as NGOs or Civil Society Organisations who support implementation and educate the public through advocacy campaigns also provide feedback on how well the policies and programmes are operating.

Opposition parties, advocacy groups, political unions, researchers and journalists are also vital to policy shaping, evaluation and maintenance. Furthermore, professionals from most walks of public life, including business leaders, lawyers, security analysts, consultants, government contractors, and professionals in industries such as telecommunications, finance, education, energy, and healthcare, all have something meaningful to contribute to and influence public policies.

Public policy influences important decisions, usually formed in response to a specific issue that interests the public and offers solutions to address the problem. Thus, the general public is also involved in determining the course of public policies in India. Since public policies are targeted at specific groups or the entire country’s population, feedback from citizens becomes crucial.

Summary

Public policy influences important decisions, usually formed in response to a specific issue that interests the public and offers solutions to address the problem. Multiple stakeholders thus get involved in formulating a public policy that spans the Sarkar (government), Bazaar (market) and Samaj (society).

Why Are Good Public Policies Important Now More Than Ever?

Over the years, nations have become increasingly interdependent for economic, security and public health reasons, to name a few. As humans and resources cross international boundaries, public issues are also becoming global. The recent Covid-19 pandemic is a classic example of countries depending on each other to keep their citizens safe. Thus, public policy challenges have become all the more complex and layered.

Moreover, rapid urbanisation, rise in education, and uptake of technology and telecommunications have meant citizens and other key non-government stakeholders in India have also become active participants in policy deliberations. Public demands combined with the increasing complexity of social issues mean the implications of poorly designed and implemented public policies could be devastating.

Being a democracy, Indian citizens possess an important means to participate indirectly in policymaking, and that is by voting. When you vote for a government in and out of power, you also vote for or against their proposed public policies. As parties and politicians change every few years, the positions and perspectives of the majority, and those in office, change too. However, while politicians can get voted out of power, public policies are difficult to end overnight. Thus, it is essential to leverage your vote mindfully so that you support the ones who seek to influence the policies that matter to you the most.

To conclude, each stakeholder perceives a social challenge differently and has their incentives or stakes in participating in the policy cycle. Successfully navigating complex negotiations between stakeholder interests and policy objectives makes the difference between an effective or ineffective public policy. However, the ultimate test of a good public policy is whether citizens’ meets are being met while maintaining larger national interests.

Summary

Public demands, combined with the increasing complexity of social issues, means the results of poorly designed and implemented public policies could be devastating. Moreover, public policies usually outlast governments and politicians long after they are out of power, so it is essential to support policy advocates that you believe in.

Register your Interest to Study at ISPP

Why Study Public Policy In India?

It is best to be immersed in the country where you want to make an impact. India is arguably the most exciting country to study and work in the field of public policy right now. In 2022, India became the fastest-growing economy in the world. While other countries faced threats of recession, India recorded consistent growth. At the same time, India continues to face uphill battles concerning poverty alleviation, rapid urbanisation, and slow improvements across health and education indicators.

These realities are increasingly reflected across Indian educational and training institutes where governance is taught. From focusing on public administration, there is an increasing shift towards teaching public policy. This is a direct consequence of the complex challenges facing policymakers and implementers. Moreover, in 2013, Corporate Social Responsibility compliance became mandatory, bringing corporates into closer contact with government agencies to help achieve public policy objectives. As a result, getting high-quality inputs at the right time from the right stakeholders to guide decision-making has become critical.

Which issues should be prioritised? Where should funds be channeled? Which solutions should be focused on? What are the most effective means to implement and monitor programmes? Answers to these questions come from various domain specialists who have a sound understanding of the country’s complex administrative and political architecture. Getting public policies right in India’s unique context is, therefore, both a daunting and exciting challenge to take on.

Summary

It is best to be immersed in the country where you want to make an impact. India is arguably the most exciting country to study and work in the field of public policy right now due to its unique global position. This reality is increasingly reflected across Indian educational and training institutes where governance is taught. From focusing on public administration, there is an increasing shift towards teaching public policy.

Career Scope After Pursuing A Course In Public Policy

The scope of public policy in India spans the sarkar (government), bazaar (market) and samaj (society). The Indian development sector has rapidly expanded in the last two decades. As a result, a spate of new educational institutes offering public policy courses, think tanks, implementation, monitoring and evaluation agencies have sprung up. Currently, the demand for skilled professionals who understand the Indian context, the functioning of public policy and governance, and domain-specific technical knowledge outmatches the supply.

The career scope in public policy is vast, and new roles regularly evolve as needs become more specialised. Public policy careers can be carved in both the public and private sectors. Following are some of the popular career options in public policy:

1. Sarkar (Government): Civil services, judicial services, military, police, regulatory services (e.g., banking and insurance), teachers, healthcare workers, social workers.
2. Bazaar (Market): Policy researchers and analysts, market researchers, policy consultants and advisers, impact assessors, monitoring & evaluation experts, journalists, public relations professionals, lawyers.
3. Samaaj (Society): Programme officers, policy advocates, philanthropists, politicians, legislative aides, policy analysts, political pollsters, campaign managers, communication experts, programme officers.

People from all academic disciplines can find their career footing in public policy. It is a myth that only students with a background in social sciences, particularly economics, sociology, political science, and public administration, can thrive in this space. The technical expertise offered by engineers, architects, urban and rural planners, and management professionals is highly sought after to solve complex challenges ranging from urban infrastructure development to creating carbon neutrality strategies! A good way to explore career options in public policy is to intern or pursue a fellowship with a government or non-government entity. Public policy courses in India teach students the theories and practices surrounding public policy. The Post Graduate Program in Public Policy, Design and Management offered by the Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP) is highly recommended to succeed in this space. At ISPP, scholars cover a range of subjects, including design thinking, markets for development, critical thinking and reasoning, economics and statistics, ethics of public policy and understanding behaviour, apart from covering domain-specific subjects, such as public health, education, gender and technology.

Today, the world needs a new generation of self-driven and hungry leaders to find sustainable solutions to our society’s challenges. As is evident from the above discussion, the exciting prospect is that this new generation of thought leaders and do- ers need not emerge exclusively from within the government.

Summary

The Indian development sector has rapidly expanded in the last two decades. Currently, the demand for skilled professionals who understand the Indian context, the functioning of public policy and governance, and domain-specific technical knowledge outmatches the supply.

What Are The Perks Of Enrolling At ISPP?

The Indian School of academic programme in aspires to create leaders who undergo a rigorous, with training in communication, management, and leadership skills. The career support system offers comprehensive resume- building and interview training to make scholars both ‘interview-ready’ and ‘industry- ready’.

ISPP has a careers team that encourages scholars to explore prospective career pathways. The careers team is dedicated to enabling scholars to pursue career opportunities of their interest

Three Es Towards Employment

The vibrant diversity of the Indian School of Public Policy’s cohort is reflected in their varied career aspirations.

The ‘Three Es towards Employment’ is its own career support process, to maximise the varied skill sets and domain expertise that the scholars offer, and enable them to pursue varied career opportunities.

Immersive Learning Project

Immersive Learning Projects (ILPs) at ISPP are designed to provide scholars with real-time experience working on policy projects. Undertaken by the ISPP scholars, the ILP is a remotely monitored association with a partner organisation and is offered as a part of their curriculum. During the tenure of this programme, scholars are expected to work with firms on live projects and apply their knowledge of public policy to solve complex challenges faced by the partner organisation. Sehgal Foundation, NITI Aayog, NSDC, BCG, EY, Safewater Network, Chase India, GRAAM, and APCO Worldwide are some of the organisations that have participated in the Immersive Learning Programme.

Thematic Areas

• Malnutrition In India
• Mainstreaming Gender In WASH
• Skill Development
• Enabling Profitable Investment In India
• Policy Advocacy

Career Opportunities After Pursuing A Public Policy Course From ISPP

•  Government
•  Think Tanks
•  Public Affairs
•  NGOs
•  Academia
•  Industry Bodies

Scholar Placements

Sector-wise break-up of scholars placed from the Class of 2022.

Recruiters

The holistic academic curriculum and robust career support system for personal and professional growth gives ISPP scholars the opportunity to work with reputed organisations.

Testimonials

Summary

ISPP has a career team that encourages scholars to explore prospective career pathways. The career is dedicated to enabling scholars to pursue career opportunities of their interest.

FAQs

Check Infographic