Vision & Objectives
Understanding and contributing to transformations shaping contemporary India.
FIRST seeks to understand and contribute to transformations shaping contemporary India through interdisciplinary research, evidence, dialogue and policy engagement.
Five dimensions of transformation.
Political Transformation
“From representation to legitimacy: mapping democratic trust and participation”
Focuses on political institutions, accountability, institutional reform, electoral integrity, campaign finance, media and social media influence, misinformation, political parties, intra-party democracy, and the representation and mobilization of religious, ethnic, Adivasi, and gender identities.
Social Transformation
“Society in Transition in a contemporary Global world”
Explores social cohesion, changing social norms, civic participation, education and skill development, digital learning, public health, healthcare disparities, and the role of NGOs, social movements, and community organizations in social change.
Economic Transformation
“From growth to development: mapping structural change and economic inclusion”
Examines rural and urban livelihoods, farmer income, agrarian distress, migration, cooperatives, welfare delivery systems, urbanization, infrastructure development, social protection, manufacturing growth, Make in India, the digital economy, green growth, and sustainable development.
Digital & Technology Transformation
“From innovation to impact: mapping digital transformation and public value”
Focuses on digital governance, Digital India initiatives, service delivery, administrative efficiency, digital inclusion, connectivity and affordability gaps, cybersecurity, cybercrime, digital financial literacy, and institutional reforms.
Governance & Administration
“From policy formulation to policy implementation: mapping administrative capacity and performance”
Examines policy formulation, institutional reform, accountability, administrative efficiency, police governance, internal security, criminal justice, RTI, anti-corruption measures, AI-enabled administration, digital governance, and comparative public administration models.
Our Objectives
FIRST works at the intersection of research, policy, education, democracy and social transformation — connecting academic inquiry with meaningful engagement and action.
Policy Research & Think Tank
To function as a policy research and think-tank platform dedicated to analysing public policies, examining policy design, identifying gaps in implementation, assessing effectiveness and undertaking impact evaluation.
Interdisciplinary Research
To encourage interdisciplinary research and academic study of socio-economic, political and cultural issues, focusing on community engagement and evidence-based policymaking within India's development context.
Field-Based Research
To encourage field-based research and surveys for empirical understanding of electoral politics, governance models and social transformation processes.
Student Engagement & Research Opportunities
To provide an open platform for student engagement, internships and research opportunities aimed at enhancing analytical, academic and professional skills.
Seminars, Workshops & Publications
To organise seminars, workshops, conferences and publications that disseminate research findings and promote a culture of critical thinking, innovation and policy-oriented solutions.
Collaboration & Knowledge Exchange
To develop meaningful collaborations and knowledge-sharing networks with academic institutions, researchers, civil society, professionals and other stakeholders working across diverse fields.
Education & Capacity Building
To further education, enhance public awareness and strengthen capacity-building initiatives across democracy, development, governance, human rights, public health and environment, ensuring sustainable development.
Inclusive Development
To address socio-political, economic and technological disparities by creating awareness and generating research-based recommendations for inclusive development.
Career Counselling & Mentorship
To provide career counselling, mentorship and academic guidance to students and young scholars to enhance their personal growth and career prospects.
Research Archive & Resource Hub
To create an archive and resource hub of policy research and ethnographic studies backed by survey data and grassroots analysis, contributing to academia and society while shaping future perspectives.