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The Centre for Civil Society celebrates Gurcharan Das being awarded the Lifetime Libertarian Award by Liberty International. As the first Indian recipient, this honour highlights his enduring influence on liberal thought, economic freedom, and India’s post-liberalisation journey. His work emphasises markets, individual liberty, and ethical responsibility, inspiring a deeper engagement with liberal ideas in shaping India’s development.
This month’s newsletter explores how NEP 2020 identifies conflict of interest as a core challenge in India’s school regulatory framework. It examines the case for structural separation of powers and the establishment of independent State School Standards Authorities (SSSAs). Featuring insights from our State Regulatory Profile (SRP) series, including the latest report on Bihar, the piece outlines a practical roadmap for moving from compliance-heavy regulation to outcome-focused governance.
On November 26, 2024, we held an Appeal for a National Repeal Law Day Event at the University of Chicago Centre in New Delhi, bringing together 60+ legal experts and policy enthusiasts to deliberate for legislative reform. Dr. Neeti Shikha emphasized a fair legal system, while a panel including Akash Chandra Jauhari, Harsh Vardhan Tripathi, Hemant Batra and Niranjana Menon discussed strategies to streamline laws. We call for a dedicated day to repeal the laws and institutionalising the repealing of laws. Support the initiative with #AppealForRepeal!
Celebrating Gandhi’s birthday week on 7 October 2024, Barun Mitra and Gurcharan Das reflected on his approach to social change. The conversation was moderated by CCS’s CEO Amit Chandra. The speakers engaged on how the practice of politics can be a force for good. They revisited instances from Gandhi’s times, his stance on political issues and his experiments throughout his life. An important takeaway from the dialogue was the need to place people at the center of public policy.
Under the overarching theme of 'Freedom & Prosperity for the Next 6 Billion,' the Mont Pelerin Society General Meeting 2024, hosted by the Centre for Civil Society in New Delhi, tackled critical global challenges to freedom and prosperity. The conference featured over 40 thought-provoking sessions, and 15+ interactive book cafés, and brought together 250+ attendees from 45+ countries. The conference opened with a highly anticipated Keynote Conversation between Nobel Laureate James Heckman and Atlas Network’s Tom Palmer, setting the tone for an inspiring 4 days of dialogue. Special sessions such as Remembering David Boaz, Hayek’s Nobel at 50, Life & Learnings of Nomadic Libertarians, Education in the 21st Century, and an Unconference created space for deep reflection on both contemporary and historical issues.
On August 15, we celebrated our 27th foundation day with a Baithak featuring Sanjeev Sanyal (Member, PM-EAC) and Gurcharan Das (Board Member, CCS). In 1997, we embarked on a journey with a vision to expand choice for individuals and ensure accountability of institutions through education, livelihood, governance, and policy training. As we look back on this milestone, we are filled with gratitude for the unwavering support that has driven our mission. As we move forward, we are excited about the future and the many milestones yet to come.
CCS has signed MoUs with six Budget Private Schools in Delhi, introducing Language Learning Labs. Five schools will utilize the Freadom app, and one school will utilize Duolingo to boost English proficiency among students. This initiative is set to transform English language learning, ensuring greater access and quality in education for underserved students. This lab will provide tailored learning experiences, encourage active participation, and integrate innovative teaching methods. By leveraging advanced technology and tailored content, we aim to equip students with the skills they need to excel academically and beyond.
We kick started our annual Researching Reality Training Program on 10th June 2024 with a cohort of 18 scholars from diverse backgrounds, who are bringing novel insights and potential solutions to deal with current policy challenges through their unique perspectives and problem-solving skills. This year’s program explores the theme of ‘Policy Challenges in School Education’. This is in response to the urgent challenge of stagnating learning outcomes in school education in India. In the first three weeks of the programme, the scholars have attended multiple knowledge and skills sessions facilitated by Dr Parth J Shah, Dr Amit Chandra, Shailendra Sharma, Dr Ghanshyam Sharma, Kumar Anand, Deepak Sharma, Vikas Jhunjhunwala among others.
We conducted a Baithak with Mohit Satyanand and Dhiraj Nayyar on "Economic State of the Union" 24 May 2024. The speakers engaged in a discussion with Kumar Anand on the current state of the Indian economy, as well as the intended and unintended consequences of India's economic policies. The focus was on issues of unemployment, the interlinkages between the manufacturing and services sector, and the urgent need for reforms in land and labour markets. The speakers concluded the discussion by each listing their three wishes for economic reform that the incoming government in New Delhi should take up.
Cambodia's Education Ministry Delegation visits CCS Centre for Civil Society hosted an 11-member delegation of the Ministry of Education, Youth & Sports (MoEYS), Cambodia, on 08 April 2024. The delegation visited two budget private schools, namely Muni International School and Oxford Angels Public School in New Delhi. Afterwards, a roundtable meeting was organized on Blue Curriculum for Life, developed in partnership with Friedrich Naumann Foundation South Asia. An understanding was reached to introduce this curriculum in select schools in Cambodia to promote the idea of Blue Economy education. The delegation also called for closer association on many other education policy interventions, citing the cultural similarities between the two nations and the exemplary work of CCS.
The CCS team interacted and expanded on the core values that drive the organisation forward, while using this opportunity to connect these with the annual goals and plans for the upcoming year. Over the three days, through a series of participatory activities, the team committed to developing a thriving culture of excellence, and keeping trust and relationships as the foundation of it. This leaderding and development workshop, facilitated by CCS Alumni Manali Shah helped in generating insights and ideas and integrating these into our annual goals around thematics as well as a coordination roadmap for converting ideas to impact at individual, departmental and organisational levels. CCS Values Passion for Work & Making a Difference | Intellectual Curiosity & Learning | Personal Responsibility & Effectiveness | Excellence in Execution | Honest & Open Communication | Respect for Individual Identity & Voice
CCS engaged the P&G Shiksha Betiyan scholars in mentoring activities starting with 4-days workshops at the select Industrial Technical Institutes, ITI Nalagarh and ITI Shimla. The mentoring workshops empowered female STEM students by offering soft-skill training, interview preparation activities and personalized mentorship to enhance their skills like communication and leadership. Mock interviews and resume writing sessions were delivered to boost their confidence for future job opportunities. Our Betiyan scholars are receiving mentorship through in-person workshops, online mentoring sessions and multiple one-on-one telephonic mentoring by experts and professionals. Through this, we aim to guide scholars toward realistic STEM career goals, motivating them to actively pursue their aspirations. With the goal of building an inclusive and diverse STEM workforce for future, the mentoring month is pivotal in shaping an empowered generation of female STEM professionals and role-models.
On 24 January 2024, our team organised a successful event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Street Vendors Act 2014 in collaboration with NASVI. The occasion gathered over 120 experts, policymakers, street vendor leaders, and stakeholders for insightful discussions on the Act's achievements, challenges, and future directions. Highlights included keynote address by Vipin Pal Singh, Director, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, special addresses and panel discussion by other distinguished experts. The event also featured the exclusive premiere of 'Error 404: Justice Denied,' a short film shedding light on the lives of street vendors, as well as presentations on impactful initiatives like the Jeevika Mobile App. The success of 'The Street Vendors Act @10' is a testament to the need for fostering meaningful discussions and uniting diverse perspectives for a comprehensive exploration of the Act's various dimensions
Our team, in partnership with FNF South Asia, had the honour of hosting representatives for an exclusive round-table on "Blue Curriculum for Modern Education: India & BIMSTEC". Distinguished delegates, including marine specialists, educators, scholars, leaders, and policy analysts, underscored the imperative for an immediate focus on integrating a blue curriculum. Subsequently, we organised a competition at Hari Vidya Bhawan, a budget private school to raise awareness among young minds. The participants, comprised of young learners, conveyed their understanding through diverse artistic mediums.
Centre for Civil Society unveiled the 2023 edition of the Researching Reality Compendium, titled "Beyond Legalese: Aam Aadmi in Conversation with the Constitution," on 14 October 2023, at the Indian School of Public Policy. The event was graced by Hon’ble Justice J. Chelameswar, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India, as a keynote speaker and featured a lineup of distinguished speakers and experts in the realm of law and policy. This year's RR Compendium is a pioneering exploration into the Constitution of India, offering a unique perspective from the lens of an ‘Aam Aadmi’. Breaking down intricate legal jargons, the compendium strives to decode the Constitution, rendering it more accessible and comprehensible to a broader audience.
As a part of P&G Shikshas prominent CSR initiative - the Betiyan Scholarship, we identified and awarded 63 girl students pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with financial aid and mentorship. The program has already supported hundreds of women, breaking down barriers and paving the way for skilled women professionals to excel in manufacturing, technology, engineering, and various other STEM-related roles.
This year, the Centre for Civil Society celebrates the completion of 2️5️ years of translating policy into practice in education, livelihood, and governance. We invite you to join us in commemorating our journey! 4 Sept 2023 (Monday) 3:30 PM Onwards CD Deshmukh Auditorium, IIC, New Delhi Kindly confirm your presence at the event
On the 17th of June, Arjun Krishnan, Nimai Mehta, and Diya Uday participated in a panel discussion at the Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP), New Delhi to prived comprehensive view of the current state of land laws across 20 Indian states. Prashant Narang moderated the discussion while discussants Namita Wahi, Anirudh Burman, and B.K. Agarwal provided valuable feedback on their work.
The Policy Training & Outreach Department of the Centre for Civil Society is delighted to announce its partnership with La Politique - the Research Cell of the Political Science Department of Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi. Centre of Civil Society will be engaging in policy training and research projects in collaboration with the students of Political Science to enhance active stakeholder engagement in policy making.
CCS has collaborated with Civil20 Gender Equality (GE) Working Group over the last few months. Lakshmi Sampath Goyal, CEO of Centre for Civil Society, recently attended the G20 joint Working Group meeting on ‘Women-led Development’ in Goa, bringing together four engagement groups- Think20, G20 Empower, Women20 and Civil20. We also collaborated with Civil20 GE and Education & Digital Transformation Working Groups and the Azim Premji Foundation to host a policy dialogue on ‘Inclusive Education and Skill Development: Opportunities and Challenges in the Digital World ’ in Bangalore.
We hosted the visiting delegates from Liberal International and Friedrich Naumann Foundation For Freedom South Asia team on 20th March 2023. Dr Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, Professor of Education and International Development at the Institute of Education, London University, addressed the gathering about her research on Indian Schooling System.
Supported by the P&G Shiksha initiative, 'Women in STEM Caravan' was kick started with a powerful round table conference in New Delhi on 11th February and is going around several locations in India with the view to bring key stakeholders together to advance Women’s participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). We are delighted to collaborate on this Caravan with the Civil 20 Working Group on Gender Equality and Disability under India’s G20 Presidency.
Centre for Civil Society hosted Dr Uttam Kumar Sinha (Senior Fellow, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses) and Mr Sanjay Gupta (Strategy & Policy Advisor) for a Baithak on 03 January 2023. The discussion included our guests engaging in an insightful discussion on India's stance in current geopolitics, its G20 presidency, and the Global South's future.
Lakshmi Sampath Goyal and Prashant Narang from Centre for Civil Society were invited to speak at the Asia Liberty Forum 2022 in Manila, Philippines. This year, the theme was “Accelerate” - focusing on the worldwide freedom movement to shift into top gear. Atlas Network’s annual Regional Liberty Forums bring together partners from the region to discuss challenges facing the region and barriers to individual freedom and prosperity. Dr. Prashant Narang (Senior Fellow) spoke about the Atlantic Council Freedom and Prosperity Indexes Report 2021. The presentation entailed an overview of Asia's performance across the Freedom Index and its bearing on the Prosperity Index.
