Events

Despite 67 years of political independence and democracy, India is throttled by political practices that stifle individual liberty, the license-permit quota raj that still exists for the poor, and ill-informed public policies that curtail entrepreneurship, restrict opportunities for growth, and stunt economic development. Current socio-political attempts to deal with these issues have seen the growth of a prominent anti-corruption movement and subsequent passing of a watered down anti-corruption bill, the birth of the populist Aam Aadmi Party, and most significantly the rise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. However, none of these have identified or addressed the core issues within the Indian political system – a large and opaque bureaucracy, an overwhelmed and ineffective judiciary, an alarmingly pliant Constitution, deeply entrenched interest groups, and a culture of dynastic politics.

Over the last three decades, public choice theory has emerged as a prominent research agenda in economics and political science that addresses central themes in this tradition with the tools of economic analysis. Specifically, public choice theory has focused on the working properties of alternative political arrangements in an effort to understand constitutional features that are most likely to advance individual autonomy and flourishing as understood by the individuals who must live under a given constitution.

This conference for academics will focus on the leverage that the public choice approach has given political scientists and economists over understanding how democracy works and how institutions such as constitutions can be constructed to produce better social outcomes. We hope to discuss the impact that this school has had both within the academy and in the real world of politics, with a special focus on the Indian context.

CCS Colloquium is a two-day (three nights) residential program and forum for in-depth discussion centred on a chosen theme/policy. The Colloquium provides participants an opportunity to disentangle themselves from the distractions of everyday life to reflect on issues of fundamental and enduring importance. Our hope is that participants will go on to share their advanced understandings and to develop innovative ideas and approaches for bringing specific policy solutions to advance liberalism today.

The colloquium will address the following themes:

1. Politics and Constitutionalism
2. Majority Rule, Voting Cycles, and Democracy
3. Democratic Deficiencies
4. Federalism
5. The Generality Principle
6. Constitutionalism and Credible Commitment

Eligibility: Participation to the Colloquium is by invitation only. For any details, contact manasi@ccs.in

ìpolicy for Young Leaders aims to reach out to undergraduates, graduates, post graduates and recent graduates who have just started working. CCS believes that such individuals hold the power to change the future, and because they are currently in a space where their belief and knowledge could be channelized and strengthened through exposure to ideas of a free society.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• To create a fun, open, and respectful environment where everyone is encouraged to think critically about social, economic, and political issues.
• To evoke in participants a passionate inquiry into their own values and role in creating a good society.
• To equip participants with fundamental concepts of political economy and sound public policy to enable them understand the root cause of current challenges and effectively advocate for policy solutions through their current work and future professions.
• To plug participants into a global network of opportunities to propel their intellectual growth, make personal connections and access resources to help them advance their vision of a free society.

Eligibility: The course is open to all students, recent graduates as well as post graduates. Participants will be selected based on their application merit.

Please Note: Selected participants are required to attend all the sessions held during the course upon which they will receive a certificate of participation.

Course Fee: The ipolicy fee is Rs 3000, which shall cover food and course materials for the entire duration of the program. The fee is payable upon selection, and can be made online, via cheque or DD, details of which will be communicated later. The participants are requested to make their own travel arrangements. Selected participants will be notified on a rolling basis.

Application Deadline: Closed

YOU, our alumni, represent the future of liberalism in India and we want to hear from you on how you’ve been working to promote choice and accountability in your circles! Catch up with us over high tea on 9 October 2016 at the CCS office.

Vrinda Bhandari will be giving a keynote on the Role of Privacy with respect to states and markets. The talk will be followed by high tea.

Vrinda Bhandari is an alumnus of the University of Oxford where she read for the BCL and the Masters in Public Policy, after being awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. She completed her B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) from National Law School of India University, Bangalore. She is currently practicing as an Advocate in the Courts in New Delhi. Vrinda has a deep interest in issues related to free speech and privacy and in criminal law, and has worked extensively on issues involving defamation and sedition law.

Network with other graduates from across over a 100 programs conducted in policy research and training—a strong cohort of individuals passionate about creating a freer society. If you are a graduate of our Internships, or the LSS, ISPP or ìpolicy courses – Register NOW for the meet up!

For more information, contact Manasi Bose (alumni@ccs.in | +91 9810772964)

ìpolicy for Young Leaders aims to reach out to undergraduates, graduates, post graduates and recent graduates who have just started working. CCS believes that such individuals hold the power to change the future, and because they are currently in a space where their belief and knowledge could be channelized and strengthened through exposure to ideas of a free society.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• To create a fun, open, and respectful environment where everyone is encouraged to think critically about social, economic, and political issues.
• To evoke in participants a passionate inquiry into their own values and role in creating a good society.
• To equip participants with fundamental concepts of political economy and sound public policy to enable them understand the root cause of current challenges and effectively advocate for policy solutions through their current work and future professions.
• To plug participants into a global network of opportunities to propel their intellectual growth, make personal connections and access resources to help them advance their vision of a free society.

Eligibility: The course is open to all students, recent graduates as well as post graduates. Participants will be selected based on their application merit.

Please Note: Selected participants are required to attend all the sessions held during the course upon which they will receive a certificate of participation.

Course Fee: The ipolicy fee is Rs 3000, which shall cover food and course materials for the entire duration of the program. The fee is payable upon selection, and can be made online, via cheque or DD, details of which will be communicated later. The participants are requested to make their own travel arrangements. Selected participants will be notified on a rolling basis.

Application Deadline: 18 September 2016

Apply Now

A two-day policy workshop for students at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. The course aims to outline the policy landscape of India along with a mapping of key stakeholders in the policy-making process, provide students with an introduction to Public Choice Theory and New Public Management, schools of institutional economics and then apply these principles to concrete examples to consolidate their learning.

Check out Program Schedule.