Ishita Gambhir is a development economist whose work focuses on education policy, governance, and the evaluation of social programs in India. She is passionate about using rigorous evidence to inform public policy and improve the design and delivery of public services.

At the Centre for Civil Society, she leads and contributes to research on school choice, educational equity, and the implementation of India's Right to Education Act. Her work combines quantitative analysis, field-based research, and policy engagement to generate evidence for decision-makers.

Ishita holds a B.A. (Hons.) in Economics from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, a Master's degree in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics, and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Virginia. Her doctoral research examined administrative decentralization, agricultural cash transfers, and gender dimensions of local governance in India.

Prior to joining the Centre for Civil Society, she worked at the National Council of Applied Economic Research and held research positions at Integrated Research and Action for Development and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.