Explore by placeOpen map
01India 02State / UT 03District 04City / Block 05Village / Ward 06Street report
18 national pillarsAll problems
01School Theek Karo 02Food & Agriculture 03Water & Sanitation 04Health & Nutrition 05Jobs, MSMEs & Economy 06Governance, Justice & Safety 07Energy, Environment & Climate 08Cities, Housing & Infrastructure 09Transport & Logistics 10Industry & Manufacturing 11Digital, Science & Innovation 12Society, Culture & Quality of Life 13Women Safety, Health & Empowerment 14Defence, Security & Resilience 15Population & Demography 16Finance, Capital & Public Value 17Energy Security & Transition 18Global India & Cooperation
Research and actionUniversity network
01Problems 02Evidence & Research 03Solutions 04Initiatives & Pilots 05Progress 06Ideas & Evidence 07Write an Article 08Global Research Network 09Best in India 10Contribute 11People & Members
GLOBAL UNIVERSITY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP

Research with India. Challenge assumptions. Build implementation-ready work.

Universities, research institutions, professors, researchers and students are invited to work across 18 national pillars—from defining the problem and studying evidence to prototyping, measuring and documenting practical solutions.

WORLD UNIVERSITY INVITATION

Bring your faculty, students and research capability to an Indian field problem.

These institutions are shown as globally recognised research references and possible invitation targets. Display does not imply contact, collaboration, endorsement or partnership.

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.

01

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.

02

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.

03

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.

04

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.

05

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.

06

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.

07

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.

08

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.

09

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.

10

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.

11

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.

12

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.

13

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.

14

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.

15

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.

16

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.

17

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.

18

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.

19

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.

20

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.

21

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.

22

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.

23

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.

24

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.

25

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.

26

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.

27

We are looking for better answers.

28

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.

29

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.

30

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.

31

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.

32

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.

33

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.

34

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.

35

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.

36

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
GOOGLE reCAPTCHAVerification will activate after secure key setup

Site Key loads in the browser. Secret Key stays encrypted in the WordPress plugin/backend and is never exposed in page source.

Server submission will activate when the verified WordPress form plugin and reCAPTCHA keys are connected.