Large-scale societal transformation is no longer the domain of a single player and requires more than just isolated efforts. In a rapidly evolving world with complex problems, the need for multi-sector collaboration has never been more pressing. The/Nudge Institute's Indian Administrative Fellowship (IAF) is a platform that facilitates this collaboration through public-private partnership—it’s a platform for cross-pollination of ideas between the corporate and public sectors. By bringing seasoned corporate leaders into the heart of state governments/ central ministries, the program catalyzes systems-level change.
Building on its work in Karnataka, Punjab, and with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), Govt of India, The/Nudge Institute has now expanded the program to Jharkhand. Vivek Sharma, Managing Director, The/Nudge Institute’s Indian Administrative Fellowship Collective, spoke to The Pioneer, discussing the program’s significance and impact potential.
What motivated the creation of the Indian Administrative Fellowship?
The Indian Administrative Fellowship was created to connect socially conscious, tech-savvy leaders from the corporate sector to solve the pressing challenges of India’s underserved communities by partnering them with visionary civil servants/ bureaucrats at the central & state levels. The concept gained traction during the pandemic when many accomplished corporate professionals felt a strong desire to step outside their traditional roles and contribute meaningfully to the nation in a time of crisis with a sense of giving back to society.
Public-private partnerships are not new—think of the White Revolution transforming India’s dairy sector or UPI revolutionizing transactions. But during the pandemic is truly when it reached people’s consciousness that collaboration and skill transfer could drive impact at scale. The Fellowship emerged from this realization, at a time when the public sector’s need for digital solutions was greater than ever, enabling Fellows to make significant contributions to state departments.
Today, the Fellowship continues to offer a pathway for professionals seeking purpose-driven work, while empowering the government to tap into cutting-edge expertise from the private sector to transform the public systems.
Why do you think PPPs and collaboration are essential in driving the way for nation’s development?
PPPs are crucial because no single sector—whether public or private—can independently address the scale and complexity of the challenges facing our nation. From poverty alleviation to infrastructure development, from healthcare to climate resilience, the solutions demand not just resources but innovation, agility, technology, and deep systemic reforms. PPP model creates a space where these strengths can converge. The public sector brings the ability to scale and ensures that interventions remain inclusive & aligned with national priorities, while the private sector injects the best practices, execution expertise, innovation, technology and brings in new perspectives to address any challenge. Together, they can design interventions that are both impactful, scalable, inclusive and sustainable.
Take healthcare, for instance. During the COVID-19 pandemic, PPPs were instrumental in scaling up the manufacturing and distribution of vaccines, leveraging both public health mandates and private sector expertise.
Programs like the IAF embody this partnership spirit wherein socially-conscious, experienced professionals work closely for 18 months with senior civil servants at the state and central levels to collaboratively advance the integration of technological innovation across various departments and programs.
PPPs not only ensure that solutions are scaled but also that they are designed with the future in mind—adaptive, resilient, and responsive to the needs of a diverse and expanding population. They are more than just collaborative models—they are a blueprint for how sectors can come together to reimagine governance and development for the 21st century.
You have worked closely with the state governments and bureaucrats through IAF. What gaps do you think innovations fill, especially when it comes to leveraging technology?
Technological innovation can significantly enhance governance efficiency and public service delivery at scale. By integrating technology, governments can streamline operations, provide data-driven insights, and enable better decision-making. For instance, India's "Digital India" initiative has leveraged platforms such as Aadhaar and UPI to improve citizen access to services, while reducing administrative costs and enhancing transparency.
Moreover, technology helps in tackling complex development challenges, from improving healthcare access to revolutionizing agriculture. Digital platforms enable real-time monitoring of public programs, thereby improving accountability. With 70% of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets potentially supported by existing technology applications, digital transformation has become a key enabler for achieving these global goals faster and more effectively.
Ravi Trivedi’s (IAF) work with the Karnataka Government is a great example of this. He worked on the thematic area of doubling small farmers’ income by bringing innovation to the farmer's field and increasing market access. He led the establishment of the Agri-Innovation cell and drove multiple public-private partnerships to leverage the potential of agri-tech startups deploying innovative solutions such as carbon credit cashback scheme and AI-based early pest detection.
Could you discuss the focus of The/Nudge Institute’s IAF program in collaboration with the Government of Jharkhand?
Expanding our Indian Administrative Fellowship program across more states was the natural next step in our journey to impact millions of lives – and we’re thrilled to have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Jharkhand to launch the program in Ranchi.
With this cohort envisioned to work with five crucial government departments, including the Chief Secretary’s office, Rural Development, Agriculture, Finance, Industry & Commerce and ST, SC, Minority & BC Welfare, the partnership can facilitate inclusive and sustainable development for the land of forests.
To apply and know more, please visit www.iaf.thenudge.org.
Could you highlight the impact that the IAF program has made across the country, and the key themes its projects span across?
Across its cohorts, IAF has collectively made a substantial impact, mobilizing over Rs 1000 crore+ funds and impacting more than 18 Lakh program participants. Take the inaugural Karnataka cohort, for instance: 10 fellows were assigned to 10 state departments, undertaking 36 strategic projects ranging from agri-tech reforms to interventions focused on women and child development, education, rural and skill development, and beyond. Together, they mobilized upwards of Rs 800 crore funds, directly impacted 21,000 beneficiaries, and made over 280 recommendations on governance, demonstrating their capacity to deliver needle-moving change. Their collaborative endeavour translated to several remarkable achievements, including working with the Panchayat Raj department to empower women self-help group members.
These wins showcase a fraction of the whole picture – and we expect incumbent cohorts to relentlessly advance development further.
