Section 01
United states
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Technology, engineering, cities and innovation
Official website Invite to a pillar task Reference institution · No affiliation implied02 · United Kingdom
- Imperial College London
- Engineering, health, climate and public systems
Official website Invite to a pillar task Reference institution · No affiliation implied03 · United States
- Stanford University
- Science, entrepreneurship and digital systems
Official website Invite to a pillar task Reference institution · No affiliation implied04 · United Kingdom
- University of Oxford
- Policy, health, social research and science
Official website Invite to a pillar task Reference institution · No affiliation implied05 · United States
- Harvard University
- Public health, education, governance and development
Official website Invite to a pillar task Reference institution · No affiliation implied06 · United Kingdom
- University of Cambridge
- Science, manufacturing, energy and society
Official website Invite to a pillar task Reference institution · No affiliation implied07 · Switzerland
- ETH Zurich
- Engineering, climate, infrastructure and data
- Official website Invite to a pillar task Reference institution · No affiliation implied08 · Singapore
- National University of Singapore
- Cities, water, digital government and health
Official website Invite to a pillar task Reference institution · No affiliation implied09 · United Kingdom
- University College London
- Urban systems, health, education and policy
Official website Invite to a pillar task Reference institution · No affiliation implied10 · United States
- California Institute of Technology
- Science, energy, earth systems and engineering
- Official website Invite to a pillar task Reference institution · No affiliation implied11 · Singapore
- Nanyang Technological University
- Technology, manufacturing, sustainability and education
- Official website Invite to a pillar task Reference institution · No affiliation implied12 · Australia
- UNSW Sydney
- Infrastructure, climate, energy and social impact
- Official website Invite to a pillar task Reference institution · No affiliation implied
Selection includes institutions appearing in major global university rankings and research ecosystems. Research suitability will be assessed by pillar and department, not by a single overall rank. View QS World University Rankings source.
- Partnership framework
- A Global Invitation to Universities, Researchers & Students
We invite universities, research institutions, professors, researchers and students from India and around the world to work with us across 18 National Pillars.
Our objective is not simply to collect ideas.
Our objective is to:
Understand the problem → Research deeply → Study India and the world → Work with communities → Develop evidence-based solutions → Prototype where possible → Test → Improve → Document → Create implementation-ready projects.
Each of the 18 pillars should become a serious, multidisciplinary research and development programme.
We want universities and students to work with us not only as contributors, but as research partners, critical thinkers, problem-solvers and co-creators.
OUR 18 NATIONAL PILLARS
Each pillar represents a major area of national development.
The pillars are interconnected, but each should have its own dedicated research programme, multidisciplinary team, research questions, field studies, projects and implementation roadmap.
Section 01
School theek karo
Focus
Build a stronger, more accessible, effective and future-ready school education system.
Research should examine the complete school ecosystem rather than focusing only on curriculum.
- Areas of Research
- School infrastructure
- Teaching quality
- Teacher training
- Learning outcomes
- Foundational learning
- Digital education
- Vocational exposure
- Career awareness
- Student mental and social wellbeing
- Accessibility
- Rural and urban school differences
- Government and private school systems
- School management
- Attendance and dropout
- Technology in classrooms
- Examination and assessment systems
- Parent-school relationships
- Potential Team
Education researchers, teachers, psychologists, child-development experts, architects, technology researchers, economists, policy researchers and students.
Expected Output
Develop practical, evidence-based models for improving schools that can be tested in different communities and adapted to local needs.
Section 02
Food & agriculture
Focus
Build a stronger, more productive, sustainable and resilient food and agriculture ecosystem.
- Areas of Research
- Farmer income
- Agricultural productivity
- Soil health
- Water-efficient farming
- Irrigation
- Crop diversification
- Food processing
- Storage
- Cold chains
- Food wastage
- Supply chains
- Agricultural technology
- Rural entrepreneurship
- Market access
- Nutrition
- Climate-resilient agriculture
- Small and marginal farmers
- Potential Team
Agricultural scientists, economists, environmental researchers, food scientists, engineers, technology experts, rural-development researchers and students.
Expected Output
Develop practical models that improve agricultural productivity, farmer livelihoods, food security and supply-chain efficiency.
Section 03
Water & sanitation
Focus
Research how India can improve access to safe water, sanitation and sustainable water management.
- Areas of Research
- Drinking water
- Groundwater
- Water quality
- Water conservation
- Wastewater
- Sewage systems
- Rural sanitation
- Urban sanitation
- Water reuse
- Rainwater harvesting
- River and lake restoration
- Floodwater management
- Water infrastructure
- Community water systems
- Water monitoring technology
- Potential Team
Civil engineers, environmental scientists, hydrologists, public-health researchers, urban planners, technology researchers and students.
Expected Output
Develop scalable water and sanitation solutions suitable for cities, towns and rural communities.
Section 04
Health & nutrition
Focus
Improve health outcomes through prevention, accessibility, nutrition, infrastructure, technology and stronger systems.
- Areas of Research
- Primary healthcare
- Preventive healthcare
- Public health
- Nutrition
- Maternal and child health
- Healthcare accessibility
- Rural healthcare
- Urban healthcare
- Healthcare infrastructure
- Telemedicine
- Health technology
- Medical data systems
- Public-health awareness
- Healthcare workforce
- Health financing
- Nutrition security
- Potential Team
Doctors, public-health researchers, nutritionists, biomedical engineers, data scientists, economists, social researchers and students.
Expected Output
Develop evidence-based healthcare and nutrition models that can be responsibly tested and evaluated.
Section 05
Jobs, msmes & economy
Focus
Create stronger pathways for employment, entrepreneurship, MSME growth and broad-based economic opportunity.
- Areas of Research
- Employment
- Skill development
- MSME growth
- Entrepreneurship
- Local businesses
- Informal economy
- Women entrepreneurship
- Youth employment
- Rural enterprises
- Digital businesses
- Manufacturing opportunities
- Export opportunities
- Business financing
- Productivity
- Local economic ecosystems
- Potential Team
Economists, management researchers, entrepreneurs, labour researchers, technology experts, finance researchers and students.
Expected Output
Develop practical employment, entrepreneurship and MSME-development models that can be tested locally and scaled responsibly.
Section 06
Governance, justice & safety
Focus
Research how public systems can become more accessible, transparent, efficient, accountable and citizen-focused.
- Areas of Research
- Public service delivery
- Government processes
- Digital governance
- Citizen services
- Administrative efficiency
- Justice accessibility
- Legal awareness
- Public safety
- Grievance systems
- Data-driven governance
- Transparency
- Institutional accountability
- Emergency response
- Community safety
- Potential Team
Law researchers, policy researchers, governance experts, technologists, economists, social scientists and students.
Expected Output
Develop evidence-based models for improving public services, accessibility and institutional processes while respecting law and constitutional principles.
Section 07
Energy, environment & climate
Focus
Address environmental challenges and climate risks while improving sustainable development.
- Areas of Research
- Air pollution
- Water pollution
- Waste management
- Biodiversity
- Deforestation
- Climate adaptation
- Climate resilience
- Urban environmental quality
- Renewable energy integration
- Sustainable agriculture
- Circular economy
- Carbon reduction
- Ecological restoration
- Environmental monitoring
- Potential Team
Environmental scientists, climate researchers, engineers, economists, urban planners, ecologists, policy researchers and students.
Expected Output
Develop measurable environmental and climate solutions adapted to Indian conditions.
Section 08
Cities, housing & infrastructure
Focus
Build cities and communities that are safe, accessible, efficient, affordable and resilient.
- Areas of Research
- Urban planning
- Housing
- Affordable housing
- Slum improvement
- Public spaces
- Roads
- Drainage
- Urban services
- Building systems
- Construction technology
- Accessibility
- Smart-city technology
- Urban resilience
- Waste infrastructure
- Community infrastructure
- Potential Team
Architects, urban planners, civil engineers, environmental researchers, economists, designers, sociologists and students.
Expected Output
Develop integrated models for better neighbourhoods, housing and infrastructure.
Section 09
Transport & logistics
Focus
Improve the movement of people and goods.
- Areas of Research
- Public transport
- Roads
- Rail
- Last-mile connectivity
- Logistics
- Freight
- Warehousing
- Traffic management
- Road safety
- Mobility technology
- Rural connectivity
- Urban mobility
- Multimodal transport
- Sustainable transport
- Accessibility
- Potential Team
Transport engineers, urban planners, logistics researchers, economists, technology experts, safety researchers and students.
Expected Output
Develop practical mobility and logistics systems that improve efficiency, safety, affordability and connectivity.
Section 10
Industry & manufacturing
Focus
Strengthen India's manufacturing capabilities, industrial productivity and technological competitiveness.
- Areas of Research
- Manufacturing technology
- Automation
- Robotics
- MSME manufacturing
- Supply chains
- Industrial infrastructure
- Quality systems
- Industrial safety
- Productivity
- Advanced materials
- Local manufacturing
- Export competitiveness
- Industrial sustainability
- Workforce skills
- Potential Team
Mechanical engineers, industrial engineers, materials scientists, economists, technology researchers, management experts and students.
Expected Output
Develop practical industrial models, technologies and systems that improve productivity and resilience.
Section 11
Digital, science & innovation
Focus
Use science, technology and innovation to solve real-world problems.
- Areas of Research
- Artificial intelligence
- Digital infrastructure
- Software
- Data systems
- Cybersecurity
- Scientific research
- Robotics
- Emerging technologies
- Digital public infrastructure
- Research infrastructure
- Automation
- Innovation ecosystems
- Technology education
- Responsible technology
- Potential Team
Computer scientists, engineers, AI researchers, mathematicians, scientists, designers, entrepreneurs and students.
Expected Output
Develop responsible technology and research-driven solutions for real national challenges.
Section 12
Society, culture & quality of life
Focus
Understand and improve the social, cultural and everyday quality of life of communities.
- Areas of Research
- Community wellbeing
- Culture
- Heritage
- Social cohesion
- Accessibility
- Recreation
- Public spaces
- Community participation
- Ageing
- Disability inclusion
- Social isolation
- Mental wellbeing
- Local traditions
- Cultural preservation
- Quality-of-life measurement
- Potential Team
Sociologists, psychologists, cultural researchers, designers, economists, historians, urban researchers and students.
Expected Output
Develop community-focused models that improve quality of life while respecting India's cultural diversity.
Section 13
Women safety, health & empowerment
Focus
Address women's safety, health, participation, opportunity and economic empowerment.
- Areas of Research
- Public safety
- Safe transport
- Workplace safety
- Digital safety
- Healthcare access
- Maternal health
- Economic participation
- Entrepreneurship
- Education
- Skill development
- Financial inclusion
- Community support
- Legal awareness
- Urban design for safety
- Technology for safety
- Potential Team
Public-health researchers, legal researchers, sociologists, psychologists, technology experts, urban planners, economists and students.
Expected Output
Develop evidence-based systems that improve safety, access, opportunity and participation.
Research must be conducted with appropriate ethics, privacy and safeguards.
Section 14
Defence, security & resilience
Focus
Study national resilience and security challenges through responsible, lawful and evidence-based research.
- Areas of Research
- Disaster resilience
- Critical infrastructure protection
- Cybersecurity
- Emergency preparedness
- Supply-chain resilience
- Disaster response
- Public safety
- Information resilience
- Infrastructure continuity
- Emergency communications
- Risk management
- Civil preparedness
- Potential Team
Security researchers, engineers, cybersecurity experts, disaster-management researchers, policy researchers and students.
Expected Output
Develop lawful and responsible resilience frameworks for protecting communities and critical systems.
Research must respect applicable laws, institutional requirements and responsible-use principles.
Section 15
Population & demography
Focus
Understand India's changing population and prepare systems for demographic change.
- Areas of Research
- Population trends
- Age structure
- Migration
- Urbanization
- Rural population
- Ageing
- Youth population
- Family structures
- Workforce demographics
- Regional population differences
- Housing demand
- Healthcare demand
- Education demand
- Employment demand
- Population-related infrastructure
- Potential Team
Demographers, economists, sociologists, public-health researchers, statisticians, urban planners and students.
Expected Output
Develop evidence-based demographic scenarios and planning frameworks.
Section 16
Finance, capital & public value
Focus
Study how financial systems and capital can support productive, inclusive and sustainable development.
- Areas of Research
- Financial inclusion
- MSME finance
- Household finance
- Public finance
- Infrastructure finance
- Investment
- Capital allocation
- Credit access
- Financial technology
- Public spending
- Economic value
- Social return
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Long-term investment
- Financial resilience
- Potential Team
Economists, finance researchers, accountants, policy researchers, fintech experts, statisticians and students.
Expected Output
Develop evidence-based financial and capital-allocation models that improve public and economic value.
Section 17
Energy security & transition
Focus
Study India's long-term energy security and transition while considering affordability, reliability and resilience.
This pillar should remain distinct from Energy, Environment & Climate.
- Areas of Research
- Energy security
- Electricity reliability
- Energy access
- Renewable energy
- Energy storage
- Grid systems
- Nuclear energy research
- Energy efficiency
- Industrial energy
- Transport energy
- Energy transition
- Domestic energy resources
- Energy imports
- Energy affordability
- Critical energy infrastructure
- Potential Team
Energy engineers, electrical engineers, economists, climate researchers, policy researchers, technology experts and students.
Expected Output
Develop evidence-based energy-security and transition scenarios that consider reliability, affordability, environmental impact and long-term resilience.
Section 18
Global india & cooperation
Focus
Study India's relationship with the world and identify opportunities for constructive international cooperation.
- Areas of Research
- International cooperation
- Trade
- Technology partnerships
- Education partnerships
- Research collaboration
- International investment
- Knowledge exchange
- Global supply chains
- Cultural exchange
- International development
- Science diplomacy
- Student exchange
- University partnerships
- Global challenges
- India's international engagement
- Potential Team
International-relations researchers, economists, policy researchers, trade experts, technology researchers, sociologists, university representatives and students.
Expected Output
Develop evidence-based frameworks for international research, education, technology, economic and knowledge collaboration.
This pillar can also serve as an important gateway for the Global University Research Network.
HOW WE WANT UNIVERSITIES TO WORK WITH US
We do not want one university to simply submit an idea.
We want universities and students to work with us through a complete research cycle.
STEP 01 — SELECT A PILLAR
A university, department, research group or student team can identify one or more of the 18 National Pillars.
STEP 02 — FORM A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM
Bring together the disciplines required for that pillar.
A single problem may require:
- Engineers
- Researchers
- Economists
- Designers
- Scientists
- Policy experts
- Students
- Local communities
The exact combination should depend on the problem.
STEP 03 — DEFINE THE RESEARCH QUESTION
Clearly define:
What is the problem?
Who is affected?
Why does it exist?
What evidence already exists?
What is still unknown?
STEP 04 — STUDY INDIA
Conduct appropriate:
- Field research
- Surveys
- Interviews
- Site studies
- Data analysis
- Community consultation
- Institutional research
The purpose is to understand actual conditions before proposing solutions.
STEP 05 — STUDY THE WORLD
Study relevant international examples.
Do not simply copy them.
Use:
- Study → Understand → Compare → Validate → Adapt → Improve
- STEP 06 — DEVELOP ALTERNATIVES
Do not jump immediately to one solution.
Develop and compare multiple possible approaches where appropriate.
STEP 07 — DESIGN THE COMPLETE SYSTEM
Consider:
- Technology
- Infrastructure
- Operations
- Human resources
- Finance
- Governance
- Regulation
- Maintenance
- Monitoring
- Scalability
The existing research framework already establishes this complete-system approach.
STEP 08 — PROTOTYPE & TEST
Where feasible:
Design → Prototype → Test → Measure → Improve
Do not declare success only because an idea looks good on paper.
STEP 09 — DOCUMENT EVERYTHING
Create a complete project document so that knowledge is not lost between teams or institutions.
STEP 10 — IMPLEMENT & MONITOR
Where appropriate and feasible, move from research to pilot implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
ONE PILLAR = ONE COMPLETE RESEARCH PROGRAMME
Every pillar should ultimately have:
- Research team
- University contributors
- Student contributors
- Research questions
- Current-condition analysis
- Data
- Field research
- Global case studies
- Indian case studies
- Alternative solutions
- Proposed solution
- Technical research
- Economic research
- Social research
- Environmental assessment where relevant
- Legal/regulatory assessment
- Prototype/pilot where feasible
- Risk assessment
- Implementation roadmap
- Monitoring framework
- Research documentation
- Open research questions
The goal is to reduce avoidable rebuilding and repeated mistakes through better research and validation before implementation.
We cannot promise that a system will never need change. Instead, we aim to create strong foundations that can adapt as evidence, technology and circumstances change.
STUDENTS ARE PART OF THE RESEARCH TEAM
Students should not be treated simply as volunteers.
Depending on their qualifications and supervision, students can contribute to:
- Research
- Data collection
- Field studies
- Surveys
- Coding
- Design
- Engineering
- Modelling
- Documentation
- Prototyping
- Policy research
- Environmental research
- Social research
- Communication
Student work should be appropriately supervised and credited.
The existing framework already establishes student participation as genuine research contribution rather than only volunteer activity.
MULTI-UNIVERSITY COLLABORATION
A single pillar can involve multiple universities.
For example:
- University A → Technology
- University B → Economics
- University C → Architecture
- University D → Environment
- University E → Social Research
- University F → Policy
Together, these contributions can become one integrated project.
INDIA + GLOBAL UNIVERSITY FIELD COLLABORATION
We invite international universities and research teams to engage with India where appropriate through:
- Research visits
- Field studies
- Workshops
- Student exchanges
- Faculty collaboration
- Expert meetings
- Joint research
- Pilot studies
- Community research
- Comparative research
We also welcome Indian universities and students to collaborate internationally.
The purpose is simple:
Do not study India only from outside. Come, observe, listen, research and work with people where appropriate.
This builds on the existing international field-collaboration model.
OUR OPEN CHALLENGE TO UNIVERSITIES
Come and challenge our ideas.
Come with:
Your knowledge.
Your research.
Your students.
Your questions.
Your evidence.
Do not simply agree with us.
Tell us:
What are we missing?
Which assumptions are wrong?
What evidence contradicts our thinking?
Can the solution be cheaper?
Can it work in rural India?
Can it work in smaller cities?
Can it scale?
What risks have we missed?
What environmental consequences have we overlooked?
What technology could improve it?
We are not looking only for agreement.
We are looking for better answers.
GLOBAL RESEARCH NETWORK
Create a dedicated Global Research Network connecting:
- Global Universities
- Indian Universities
- Research Institutions
- Professors
- Researchers
- Students
- Scientists
- Engineers
- Designers
- Economists
- Policy Researchers
- Industry
- Communities
- Local Institutions
The purpose is to bring different forms of knowledge together.
RESEARCH BY PILLAR
Every pillar should have its own research page.
Each page should contain:
- Pillar name
- Research question
- Current situation
- Major problems
- Evidence
- Data
- Global research
- Indian research
- Field research
- Student research
- University contributors
- Research projects
- Proposed solutions
- Prototypes
- Pilot projects
- Research documents
- Implementation roadmap
- Open research questions
- Collaboration opportunities
This turns each pillar into a living research programme rather than a static information page.
UNIVERSITY DIRECTORY
For every university/institution, where information is publicly available and appropriate, collect:
- Official university name
- Country
- City
- Official website
- Official logo
- Relevant research strengths
- Relevant departments
- Research centres
- Relevant faculty/research areas
- Student programmes
- Relevant pillar(s)
- Collaboration opportunities
- Research office/contact
- Source of information
- Collaboration status
Collaboration status must be accurate.
Use:
- Invited
- Research Contacted
- Discussion
- Collaborating
- Research Partner
Do not show an institution as a partner until collaboration has actually been established.
UNIVERSITY LOGOS
Use university logos only from:
- Official university sources
- Official brand resources
- Properly licensed sources
Do not use random logo websites.
Do not imply partnership merely by displaying a university logo.
Keep the official source/reference for every logo.
WEBSITE MENU
The main mega menu should remain clean.
18 National Pillars
Only display the pillar names:
1. School Theek Karo 2. Food & Agriculture 3. Water & Sanitation 4. Health & Nutrition 5. Jobs, MSMEs & Economy 6. Governance, Justice & Safety 7. Energy, Environment & Climate 8. Cities, Housing & Infrastructure 9. Transport & Logistics 10. Industry & Manufacturing 11. Digital, Science & Innovation 12. Society, Culture & Quality of Life 13. Women Safety, Health & Empowerment 14. Defence, Security & Resilience 15. Population & Demography 16. Finance, Capital & Public Value 17. Energy Security & Transition 18. Global India & Cooperation
Do not put descriptions or paragraphs inside the mega menu.
GLOBAL RESEARCH NETWORK MENU
Create a separate navigation area:
- Global Universities
- Indian Universities
- Research Institutions
- Student Research
- Faculty & Researchers
- Research by Pillar
- Field Research
- University Collaboration
- University Invitation
- Research Partners
The existing file already establishes this Global Research Network structure.
OPEN RESEARCH CHALLENGES
Create a dedicated area for unanswered questions.
Examples:
What are we missing?
What evidence contradicts our current assumptions?
Can this solution be made cheaper?
Can it work in rural areas?
Can it work in smaller cities?
What environmental consequences have we overlooked?
What technology could improve it?
What could cause implementation to fail?
The purpose is to encourage researchers to challenge and improve the work, not simply endorse it.
FINAL INVITATION
Join Us. Research With Us. Challenge Us. Build With Us.
We invite universities, students, researchers and institutions from India and around the world to work with us across the 18 National Pillars.
We do not claim to have every answer.
We want to create a process through which better answers can be discovered, tested, improved and implemented responsibly.
Bring your knowledge.
Bring your research.
Bring your students.
Bring your questions.
Challenge our assumptions.
Help us find what we have missed.
Help us understand India better.
Help us develop solutions that are practical, evidence-based and designed for real people.
OUR VISION
We want to bring together:
The best research we can find.
The best questions we can ask.
The strongest evidence available.
The experience of communities.
The creativity of students.
The knowledge of universities.
The practical ability of engineers and professionals.
Then turn that combined knowledge into projects that can genuinely serve people.
We invite the world to work with us.
Not simply to tell us what to build,
but to help us discover:
What should be built. Why it should be built. How it should work. How it should be tested. How it should be improved. How it can be implemented responsibly. And how it can remain useful as the future changes.
JOIN THE RESEARCH NETWORK
Bring evidence, questions and multidisciplinary capability.
We do not ask universities to endorse a finished answer. We ask them to test assumptions, identify what is missing and help develop work that can be responsibly implemented.
Start a research proposal
PROPOSE A PILLAR TASK
School, college or university?
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Institution type Choose type SchoolCollegeUniversity Research institution Student group Official institution nameCountry State / region City / district Official website Official email Your role Choose a pillarSelect one01 · School Theek Karo02 · Food & Agriculture03 · Water & Sanitation04 · Health & Nutrition05 · Jobs, MSMEs & Economy06 · Governance, Justice & Safety07 · Energy, Environment & Climate08 · Cities, Housing & Infrastructure09 · Transport & Logistics10 · Industry & Manufacturing11 · Digital, Science & Innovation12 · Society, Culture & Quality of Life13 · Women Safety, Health & Empowerment14 · Defence, Security & Resilience15 · Population & Demography16 · Finance, Capital & Public Value17 · Energy Security & Transition18 · Global India & Cooperation Proposed research or field taskTeam and supervisionField visit possible? ChooseYes NoTo be discussed Expected duration Public evidence or proposal document URL I confirm that this is an authorised institutional enquiry and contains no unsafe personal data.
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