31 October 2019: Panel discussion on ‘Impact of climate change and extreme weather events in India’

Moderator:
Sreenivasan Jain, NDTV

Organised by
Tata Centre for Development at UChicago

Abstract:
Key objectives of the panel discussion are:
- Highlighting the economic and health costs of climate change in India.
- Exploring coping strategies to limit the impacts of extreme weather events.
- Evaluating India’s efforts in building climate-resilient cities.

Date: October 31, 2019
Time: 11:30 A.M.

Venue:
UChicago Center,
DLF Capitol Point,
Baba Kharak Singh Marg,
New Delhi (India)

Location:

7 November 2019: Panel discussion on 'Debugging India for Maximum Governance: Ensuring Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency'

Panellists:
Shakti Sinha, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML).
Shailaja Chandra, former Secretary, Government of India and former Chief Secretary, Delhi.
K.P. Krishnan, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.

Organised by
Centre for Civil Society (CCS)

Abstract:
In the larger purview of maximum governance, the discussion will explore the scope and limits of state capacity, and how lack of it is to be made up for, through back-checks; the possible irony behind it, and ways of introduction of good practice to increase accountability in general - in deploying service delivery.

Date: November 7, 2019
Time: 06:30 P.M.

Venue:
The Claridges,
12, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Road,
New Delhi-110011(INDIA)

Note:
Kindly RSVP to Samta Arora at samta@ccs.in

Location:

25 October 2019: How to Mitigate Climate Change

Ian Parry
Fiscal Affairs Department, International Monetary Fund

Abstract:
The IMF’s Fiscal Monitor provides a toolkit for climate mitigation policies. It discusses the pros and cons of alterative mitigation instruments including carbon taxes, trading systems, regulations, and tax-subsidy schemes. A quantitative analysis is provided for G20 countries illustrating the impacts of carbon pricing, what prices are consistent with countries’ Paris mitigation pledges, and the trade-offs with other policy instruments. The design and impacts of a carbon price floor arrangement among large emitters that could complement the Paris Agreement are considered. The report also discusses strategies for enhancing the acceptability of mitigation policies and supporting measures needed to ensure adequate investment in low-emission technologies.

Date: October 25, 2019
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
Auditorium, Ground Floor
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy,
18/2 Satsang Vihar Marg, Special Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110067(INDIA)

Location:

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31 October 2019: Special Talk on "Military Spending"

Sanjeev Gupta
Center for Global Development

Organised by:
EGROW Foundation and FICCI

Date: October 31, 2019
Time: 05:00 P.M.

Venue:
FICCI,
Federation House, 1, Tansen Marg,
New Delhi-110001(INDIA)

Note:
RSVP: chiraag.samaddar@ficci.com

Location:

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25 October 2019: Strategy of Conquest

Marcin Dziubinski
University of Warsaw

Organised by
Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Delhi Center

Abstract:
We develop a theoretical framework for the study of war and conquest. The analysis highlights the role of three factors – the technology of war, resources, and contiguity network – in shaping the dynamics of appropriation and the formation of empires. The world of many kingdoms is characterized by incessant fighting. After an initial phase of uncertain and gradual growth, the expansion of the winning kingdom speeds up, and it grows rapidly through contiguous expansion. The size of the empire is limited by the connectivity of the network. These dynamics are consistent with the rise of the First Chinese Empire.

Date: October 25, 2019
Time: 11:30 A.M.

Venue:
Seminar 2
Indian Statistical Institute Delhi Centre,
7, S. J. S. Sansanwal Marg,
New Delhi-110016 (INDIA)

Location:

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23 October 2019: Evidence/Proof: Science and Social Response to Air Pollution

Jessica Seddon
World Resources Institute (WRI), Washington D.C.

Abstract:
This talk will discuss the way that the chemistry of air pollution shapes the policy and political challenges of improving air quality. It will lay out a general framework for the intersection of science and social dynamics and offer some specific proposals for air quality governance in India.

Date: October 23, 2019
Time: 04:30 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall, Ground Floor
R&T Building
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy,
18/2 Satsang Vihar Marg, Special Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110067(INDIA)

Note:
Those who are interested may please confirm your participation at latha.balasubramanian@nipfp.org.in

Location:

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22 October 2019: Conversation with author of "City of Flows"

Olivier Mongin
Essayist and Publisher in conversation with
Marie-Hélène Zérah
French Institute of Research on Development (IRD), Paris and Center for Policy Research

Organised by
The Centre for Policy Research (CPR), Centre de Sciences Humaines (CSH) and Institut Français India (IFI)

Abstract:
Olivier Mongin’s book City of Flows ("La Ville des flux", published in 2013), reflects on the trajectory of cities in an era of globalisation. For Olivier Mongin, there is an ongoing “de-territorialisation” process in the cities, which avoids regulation, because of their integration into a vast global movement materialised by flows. He argues in favour of the urgent need to rethink urban values, which have taken various forms and semantics through history, and which are vital to envision a more integrative future for cities.

Date: October 22, 2019
Time: 04:00 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall
Centre for Policy Research,
Dharma Marg, Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi–110021(INDIA)

Location:

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17 October 2019: Panel discussion on, "Bridging Access & Innovation in Healthcare Policy"

Organised by:
Observer Research Foundation (ORF)

Abstract:
Expanding affordable access to innovative drugs will play a central role in addressing current and future global health challenges. This is particularly critical for low- and middle-income economies as they look to reduce disease burdens through innovative medicines and strengthen healthcare delivery. Is there a policy framework that would both incentivize life sciences companies to continue risk-taking investments into the research of transformative cures--and make these cures available to patients who can least afford but most need access to them? This discussion will seek to brainstorm & rebuild on best practice policies--including the convergence of intellectual property rights, voluntary licensing and strengthening healthcare infrastructure.

Date: October 17, 2019
Time: 10:30 A.M.

Venue:
Nilgiri room,
The Oberoi,
Dr. Zakir Hussain Marg,
New Delhi 110003 (India)

Note:
RSVP: architlohani29@gmail.com

Location:

16 October 2019: Seminar on "Is there a recent revival of Chinese nationalism?"

Gunjan Singh
Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)

Chair:
Debasish Chaudhury, Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS)

Organised by:
Institute of Chinese Studies

Abstract:
In the last few decades the Communist Party of China (CPC) has had to depend on nationalism to gain mass support for foreign as well as domestic policies. In a post ideological environment nationalism is being cultivated for gaining domestic support. Xi Jinping, after becoming the President and the abolition of the two terms presidential term in 2018 there is a major push by the party to demolish domestic criticism with the help of nationalism, but as experience shows, nationalism has always been a double edged sword. This talk will cover recent developments and see how party is handling it now.

Date: October 16, 2019
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
Seminar Room
Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS)
8/17, Sri Ram Road, Civil Lines,
Delhi-110054 (India)

Location:

17 October 2019: Economic openness across India: the opportunities, challenges and risks

Stephen Brien
Legatum Institute

Discussants:
Harsha Vardhana Singh, Council on Emerging Market Enterprises at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy

Organised by
Brookings India

Abstract:
Prosperity entails much more than financial and material wealth. It reaches into the political, the judicial, the well-being and the character of a nation. For societies to flourish and people to prosper, we need economic prosperity and social well-being working hand-in-hand. But that requires open, competitive economies, where individuals, communities and businesses are truly empowered to realise their full potential. The Legatum Institute has created a Global Index of Economic Openness (GIEO) to rank 157 countries’ openness to commerce, assessing the environment that enables or hinders their ability to trade both domestically and internationally. It can serve as a unique and valuable tool for governments across the world to assess the economic impact of their policy choices, understand the vast potential for wealth creation from their improvement, and create pathways from poverty to prosperity for some of the world’s most disadvantaged people.

Date: October 17, 2019
Time: 04:00 P.M.

Venue:
Brookings India
No. 6, Second Floor,
Dr. Jose P. Rizal Marg,
Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi-110021

Note:
Please RSVP ngupta@brookingsindia.org and contact and zkazmi@brookingsindia.org for media inquiries.

Location:

17 October 2019: Book launch and discussion on 'Demanding Development: The Politics of Public Goods Provision in India's Urban Slums'

Adam Michael Auerbach
School of International Service, American University, Washington, DC

Discussants:
Véronique Dupont, French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD)
Rohit Chandra, Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

Moderator:
Marie-Hélène Zérah, Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

Organised by
Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

Abstract:
India’s urban slums exhibit dramatic variation in their access to local public goods and services – paved roads, piped water, trash removal, sewers, and streetlights. Drawing on more than two years of fieldwork in the north Indian cities of Bhopal and Jaipur, Demanding Development accounts for the uneven success of India’s slum residents in securing local public goods and services. The book centres on the political organisation of slum settlements and the informal slum leaders who spearhead resident efforts to make claims on the state – in particular, those slum leaders who are party workers. It finds striking variation in the extent to which networks of party workers have spread across slum settlements. It demonstrates how this variation in the density and partisan distribution of party workers across settlements has powerful consequences on the ability of residents to politically mobilise to improve local conditions.

Date: October 17, 2019
Time: 04:30 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall
Centre for Policy Research,
Dharma Marg, Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi–110021(INDIA)

Note:
Please RSVP at president.cpr@cprindia.org

Location:

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10 October 2019: Talk on 'What Happens to Local Electricity Supply Systems When Grid Supply Improves? Insights From Three Localities in Bihar'

Bérénice Girard

Organised by
Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

Abstract:
Two simultaneous dynamics are currently taking place in the energy sector in Bihar. One is the development of the electricity grid and the improvement of supply. The other is a push by the Central and State governments for renewable energies, especially for solar. The 2017 'Policy for Promotion of New and Renewable Energy Sources' thus plans to install more than 3400 MW of renewable energy by 2022.

This presentation will introduce an ongoing research that analyses how these two dynamics have modified the “market for electricity”, in other words, the local economy that provides households and shops with electricity supply, back-up or technologies that will help reduce their bills. These products and services are either autonomous or complementary to the grid, and include small individual solutions (solar lanterns, batteries, etc), large individual solutions for condominiums or public buildings (solar rooftops, generators, etc), and collective solutions (generator services, rental of batteries, etc). The research sits at the intersection of energy and urban studies and is carried out in three different urban or semi-urban localities in the district of Bhagalpur. The presentation will examine how these three localities, despite being geographically very close to one another, are currently following three different energy trajectories.

The research thus contributes to two areas of study. First, it gives insights into the assemblages of actors, technical objects and institutions, which preside over the nature, structure and evolution of local electricity supply systems, i.e. the energy transition in contemporary India. Second, it furthers the knowledge on local entrepreneurship in different urban settings.

Date: October 10, 2019
Time: 12:00 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall
Centre for Policy Research,
Dharma Marg, Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi–110021(INDIA)

Location:

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14 October 2019: Impact of Demographic Dynamics on Migration

François Héran
National Institute for Demographic Research and National Institute of Statistics, France

Organised by
The Centre for Development Economics and Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics

Abstract:
It is a widespread view, including among researchers to believe that the primary motor of international migration is a system of communicating vessels: the least developed countries would migrate mechanically to the most developed, the overpopulated countries to the least dense, the most fertile to the less fertile, and so on. The notion of "climate migrations" seems to add a new example to this series.

Several metaphors are widely used to express this traditional "gravity model" of international migration. Some have a scholarly flavour, such as the "natural" circulation of migrants from areas of "high demographic pressures" to "low pressure" areas. Others are more popular and feed public debate (like the "magnet effect"), mingling with classical rhetorical figures: the "slippery slope" argument, the "perverse effect" arguments, etc.

In order to refute this mechanical vision of migration flows, we shall analyse the "Bilateral Migration Database" (IMF, IOM, OECD) which now offers a global view of migration systems and facilitates the integration of a wide spectrum of factors. The analysis will be supported by examples from Eastern Europe, the Indian Subcontinent, and sub-Saharan Africa. It will also be suggested that quantitative analyses of migration systems should be accompanied by a critical analysis of the rhetorical systems of argumentation.

Date: October 14, 2019
Time: 03:05 P.M.

Venue:
Amex Room (Second Floor)
Department of Economics,
Delhi School of Economics,
New Delhi-110007(INDIA)

Location:

4 October 2019: Lecture on "Belt and Road Initiative and Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Are they Compatible?"

Akio Takahara
The University of Tokyo, Japan

Organised by:
Institute of Chinese Studies & Embassy of Japan in India

Abstract:
How should we define the Belt and Road Initiative? Takahara argues that the Chinese have a genius for formulating constellational concepts that are attractive but intangible, and BRI is one of those. What we should focus on are the tangible stars, namely, the projects, which can be shared with another constellation called the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision. If President Xi Jinping of China expresses his willingness to cooperate with the latter, he and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan can demonstrate to the world that peace and cooperation remain as the “main melody” of international relations in the 21st century, at least in this part of the world.

Date: October 4, 2019
Time: 02:30 P.M.

Venue:
Lecture Room 2, Basement,
India International Centre Annexe,
40, Max Mueller Marg,
New Delhi-110003(INDIA)

Location:

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