New Delhi: Delhi University‘s Hindu College claims to have become the first higher education institution in India to establish a dedicated public policy lab. The aim is to integrate real-world policymaking into undergraduate and postgraduate education, said officials.
Designed as a hub for policy simulations, applied research, and field-based insights, the lab aims to democratise and decentralise the process of knowledge creation, bringing policymaking closer to students, researchers and communities.
The lab’s flagship initiative, ‘Public Policy in Action’, was already launched as a certification course targeting both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
The lab was officially inaugurated on Thursday by BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog. Speaking at the event, Subrahmanyam emphasised the significance of embedding public policy thinking within academic institutions. “As India moves towards becoming a $30 trillion economy and the world’s third-largest economic power, we need institutions that don’t just educate but innovate,” he said.
Hindu College’s Principal Anju Srivastava called the lab “a significant academic milestone.” She noted how the initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and practical exposure.