TISS Mumbai Launches Viksit Bharat Vichar Kendra for Policy Research

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai has launched the Viksit Bharat Vichar Kendra (VBVK), an interdisciplinary think tank aimed at strengthening policy research and academic engagement aligned with national development goals.

Established as a five-year institutional initiative, the new centre will bring together academics, researchers, policymakers, civil society organisations, industry representatives, and students. The think tank will address a wide range of subjects, including social policy, governance, livelihoods, health, education, climate resilience, gender justice, urban and rural development, and digital transformation.

Key components of the initiative include policy reviews and analysis, the Viksit Bharat Chair Professors and Fellows Programme, seminars and symposia organised under the theme 'Knowing India', public lectures, and interactive dialogues. The centre will also publish policy briefs, working papers, and annual development reviews.

Under the newly instituted fellows programme, TISS aims to draw expertise from various career stages to support its research objectives. Vice-Chancellor Badri Narayan Tiwari stated that the programme will bring distinguished chair professors, mid-career professionals, and young researchers to the institute to undertake interdisciplinary research, mentor students, and contribute to national policy discussions.

In addition to national policy research, the Kendra is set to focus on research linked to the Viksit Maharashtra 2047 agenda. The think tank will also expand its regional engagement through TISS's other campuses located in Hyderabad and Guwahati.

Tiwari noted that the centre's interdisciplinary structure is designed to allow academic scholars to collaborate closely with government institutions, industry leaders, civil society groups, and grassroots practitioners, facilitating the translation of academic research into actionable policy inputs.