Cohort 2025

Gahena recently completed her Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Nottingham after a BA(Hons) in Governance & Public Administration with Economics from the Pandit Deendayal Energy University. She has completed several short-term assignments with consultancies and government departments that involved research, project management, and stakeholder engagement, and is skilled in data analysis, evidence-building for policy, and transforming insights into actionable recommendations.

Aaryan completed his MPA from the University of Nottingham this year after a BA in Public Administration from the Pandit Deendayal Energy University. He has demonstrated his problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills through several short-term assignments with government agencies and research organisations. He includes policy research, data analysis, and stakeholder engagements among his skills and considers himself a generalist who values adaptability, broad knowledge and life-long learning. He is interested in politics, international affairs, and public markets.

Riya Khanna completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Psychology from the University of Delhi and Amity University respectively. She currently works as a consultant at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER). She has worked at the intersection of psychology, gender, and public policy, combining expertise in organizational behavior, psychometrics, and behavioral research with experience in project management and stakeholder engagement. Outside of work, Riya enjoys exploring literature, design, and conversations on human behavior and social change.

Shayeri did her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Sociology from Shiv Nadar University and Ambedkar University respectively. Her undergraduate thesis, “It’s like Real Life, but Better”, examined intimacy in the technological age through an ethnography of cyber-dating, while her master’s research, “Ar ekta cha ar cigarette debe toh!”, studied the role of adda in Bengali cultural discourse and its links to nostalgia and collective memory. She currently works at FiscalNote, a global policy and legislative intelligence firm, as part of the Energy and Environment pod, providing policy analysis and client support across U.S. federal and state jurisdictions.

Parul Malik holds a BA in Mass Media and Mass Communication from Delhi University and an MA in Public Administration from Jamia Millia Islamia. After early stints in advertising and journalism in India, she spent several years as cabin crew in Singapore before making the decision to pivot to a career in public policy. Her interests lie in urban governance, small infrastructure delivery, and technology-driven policy innovation. A recipient of the Sahitya Kala Akademi Scholarship for Excellence in Hindi, Parul brings creativity, cultural sensitivity, and strong communication skills to her work.

Rajat Kapoor holds a Bachelor’s and an Executive Master’s degrees in Business Administration from Amity University, Ahmedabad and Schulich School of Business, York University respectively. He also has a degree in Global Business Management from Mohawk college in Canada. Currently an Associate Professor of Global Corporate Strategy at Mohawk College, he combines academic insight with hands-on policy advocacy. Rajat has previously served as a policy consultant to Minister Anita Anand and as a communications specialist for MP Lisa Hepfner in Canada, working across education, sustainability, and economic policy.

Rudrani Garg holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Assam Royal Global University and a Master’s in International Relations from South Asian University. Her academic and research interests span maritime security, polar geopolitics, refugee policy, and Chinese foreign policy. In 2022, she was awarded the Emerging Leaders Fellowship by the Ananta Aspen Centre for her potential in policy leadership and global affairs. Outside of academia, she enjoys reading about global history and exploring cultural geopolitics through film and travel.

Semran Gulzar holds a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Sociology from Government Degree College, Kulgam and postgraduate degrees in Political Science and Peace & Conflict Studies from Indira Gandhi National Open University and the Islamic University of Science & Technology respectively. She is an experienced researcher with expertise in legislative analysis, community fieldwork, and qualitative methodologies. Her work reflects a strong commitment to ethical, participatory, and culturally sensitive research in conflict-affected regions. As a field investigator with the Indian Council of Social Science Research, she conducted ethnographic observation and case study documentation.

Sanskar Barekar is a law graduate from National Law University, Nagpur with a deep interest in technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) policy and disputes. He has worked on initiatives related to legal aid awareness, education rights, and access to justice for marginalised communities, combining his legal training with a commitment to social impact. Sanskar was a founding member of the Centre for Tribal and Land Rights and later established the Centre for Law, Technology and Policy to promote dialogue between academia and practice.

Aniket Prashant Shevade holds a dual degree in Biological Sciences and International Relations from IIT Madras, where he explored the intersection of science, society, and policy. As team lead for iGEM IIT Madras, he won global medals and launched The Language Project, making biotechnology knowledge accessible in over 35 languages. Professionally, he has contributed to evidence-based policymaking at institutions such as The Takshashila Institution and NITI Aayog. He also has hands-on governance experience, advising MLAs and candidates on electoral strategy, and analyzing urban governance and climate resilience for municipal authorities.