Applications Open for Policy Pioneers Program | Knowledge Partner: IIT Delhi (Public Systems Lab)

Program Description

Policy Pioneers is a hybrid 20-week policy program by India House, in partnership with IIT Delhi (Public Systems Lab), designed for students, young professionals and changemakers who want to build a career in public policy.

The program combines policy foundations, practitioner-led learning, hands-on projects, in-person learning camps, and mentorship from bureaucrats and policy professionals to help participants move beyond learning about policy to actually working on policy issues.

What Does the Program Offer?

Policy Pioneers will help participants:

• Build policy foundation: Develop a strong foundation in how public policy is conceptualised, formulated, implemented and evaluated.
• Develop policy skills: Strengthen research, analysis, writing, communication, problem-solving and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
• Learn from practitioners: Engage with policymakers, practitioners, researchers and experts working across different areas of public policy.
• Work on a live policy challenge: Apply learning through a 13-week Hands-On Project, working on a real policy problem with IAS officers in a small team.
• Build a professional network: Learn alongside peers from diverse backgrounds and connect with experts and professionals across the policy ecosystem.

Program Highlights

Learning: 90+ hours
Practitioner Exposure: 50+ practitioners and bureaucrats
Specialization Cohort: 30 delegates per specialization
IAS-Mentored Projects: 15+ projects
In-Person Experience: 2 camps
Policy Toolkit: Analysis, Writing, Communication, Negotiations and Stakeholder Engagement
Policy Foundations: 10+ sessions

Specializations Offered

For the Winter Cohort 2026, participants can choose from three specializations:

• Education
• Sustainability
• Public Systems & Governance

Who Should Join?

Policy Pioneers is designed for individuals who are curious about public policy and want to build the knowledge, skills and practical experience required to contribute to the field.

The program is particularly relevant for:

• Students and recent graduates exploring public policy as a career.
• Young professionals looking to understand the policy ecosystem and build policy-specific capabilities.
• Professionals considering a career transition into public policy, governance, development or related fields.
• UPSC and other competitive-exam aspirants who want to explore policy careers beyond examinations and civil services.

The program welcomes participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. A prior degree or qualification in public policy is not required.

Program at a Glance

Duration: 20 Weeks
Format: Hybrid
Learning: Practitioner-led sessions + Applied Learning
Learning Mode: Online + 2 In-person camps
Specializations: Sustainability, Education, Governance

To apply, click here: Applications Open for Policy Pioneers Program | Policy Leadership Program