People centric development must extend beyond New Delhi: CRF

Time of India

20-06-2025

People centric development must extend beyond Delhi as India is not one city, or one region—the different regions have different demands and voices, which must be heard and addressed, was a key suggestion put forward by the
Chintan Research Foundation
(
CRF
).
The suggestion was put forward by
Pranav Adani
, Director of
Adani Enterprises
, on Thursday as Chintan Research Foundation (CRF), an independent think tank supported by Adani Group celebrated its first Foundation Day in New Delhi.
The event witnessed an overwhelming presence of ambassadors, bureaucrats, journalists, fellow think tanks, industry leaders, and other key stakeholders to share the idea of the multi-faceted role that think tanks play in India.
Speaking at the event, Pranav Adani voiced the crucial role that think tanks play being part of the development aspirations of India's journey and how CRF contributes to this with the mantra of 'growth with goodness'.
He stated, "Policy is not abstract. It is personal. And, the growth must be measured not just in numbers, but in the lives that we touch, the lives we help improve. And this is CRF's mission — to drive change and contribute to India's rise in a way that uplifts every section of society and helps shape a
Viksit Bharat
.'
Talking about India's transformation and Viksit Bharat, Amitabh Kant, India's former G20 Sherpa and CEO, NITI Aayog, echoed that CRF will be part of this transformation and appreciated the research work that CRF has done and continues to do so. To realize this vision, he emphasised the need of think tanks to provide constructive feedback to the government. He stated, 'India-based think tanks must aim to build an ecosystem of intellectual collaboration, where systemic thinking, evidence-based policy, creative problem-solving, and constructive criticism becomes the norm across sectors.'
Only by continually asking where we stand and where we must act, India can effectively chart the future. This reflective inquiry has become a mission for CRF. Shishir Priyadarshi, President CRF highlighted a powerful conviction in the celebration, 'Think tanks must be more than silent observers and should create a space for a better, more inclusive, and more sustainable world where every voice resonates and drives action to lead a meaningful change for people-centric development.' For this he emphasised that think tanks must ask the tough questions-to the policymakers, to the government, and to the civil society.
CRF has been doing extensive research on critical issues faced by the citizens including climate change, energy transition, economy, trade, investment, geopolitics, and strategic affairs.
Here the uniqueness of CRF also lies in its approach as it integrates policy insights with industry realities while fostering connections between the government, industry, and citizens.
Additionally, the speakers highlighted the significance of think tanks in reimagining India's role in shaping the future, particularly in relation to the Global South. For this, it is crucial for India tounderstand the reality, and focus on key areas - climate change, equitable energy transition, the global economy, critical supply chains, trade, and the overarching geopolitics through evidence-based research.
Speakers and participants agreed that think tanks across India need to collaborate and prioritize objectivity, sustainability, and people-centric, data-driven solutions to address pressing policy challenges. CRF, as one of these entities, is committed to elevate ideas and empower people, and is poised to chart its role in India and the Global South.