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    • a network of flyovers and highways--systems change
    Scale

    Government is a nonprofit’s best bet for big impact

    The pathway to solving the root problem instead of treating symptoms runs through the public system.
    by Tim Hanstad | 7 min read
    On The Contrary Podcast – Social Impact

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    Latest

    a street vendor sitting under a tree with his cart, loaded with plastic water bottles, next to him--urban heat in India
    Climate Emergency
    Urban heat in India: What we know
    Drawing on insights from IDR articles, we explore key questions about why cities are getting hotter and who is most at risk.
    by India Development Review | 7 min read
    The image features the authors, Shakeela Banu and Nageena Banu. They are standing outdoors smiling warmly at each other while holding hands. Shakeela is wearing a bright red headscarf with a black inner layer, and Nageena is wearing a light-colored and patterned suit and dupatta . The background shows greenery and a blurred building--Beedi industry
    Rights
    ‘One day, one day, the women will go out to protest…’
    A day in the life of two union leaders fighting for fair working conditions in Karnataka’s beedi industry and for the rights of their community.
    by Nageena Banu, Shakeela Banu | 2 min read
    a digital illustration of a person putting their face in their hands with a clock in the background---nonprofit humour
    Humour
    Job requirements that made me realise I cannot quit right now
    If you see me looking for jobs on LinkedIn, hold my hand and take me away from my computer.
    by India Development Review | 2 min read
    scrabble letters spelling the word
    Board & Governance
    FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026: How does it affect nonprofits?
    The proposed amendments put nonprofits at risk of losing assets built with foreign funds when their FCRA registration lapses or is cancelled.
    by Nivedita Krishna, Naman Khatwani | 4 min read
    a farmer carrying paddy harvest on his shoulder--jhum farmers
    Livelihoods
    Mamit’s jhum farmers are navigating a crisis without a plan
    In Mamit, Mizoram, jhum farmers face multiple crises through erratic weather, rodent attacks, and failed plantation shifts.
    by Rodingliana | 4 min read

    Ground Up

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    Bite-sized stories from the people closest to the action.
    Livelihoods
    photo
    Kangri: Baskets of fire that keep Kashmir warm
    by Zaid Malik
    Location Icon Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir
    Rights
    photo
    For fieldworkers, the LPG shortage is turning into a crisis of trust
    by Rama
    Location Icon North West Delhi district, Delhi
    Rights
    photo
    A lock on identity: What happens when nomads are asked to stay
    by Astha Chaudhary
    Location Icon Nainital district, Uttarakhand
    Livelihoods
    photo
    If loan payments are fixed, why isn’t the price of our honey?
    by Anita Dhakad
    Location Icon Morena district, Madhya Pradesh

    Videos

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    A day in the life of: Union leaders organising women in Karnataka’s beedi industry
    #IDRAnswers | What information do you need to think, act and change the world?
    IDR Interviews | Dr Carmo Noronha

    A day in the life of

    SEE ALL
    Frontline workers and first responders share their insights from working at the grassroots.
    The image features the authors, Shakeela Banu and Nageena Banu. They are standing outdoors smiling warmly at each other while holding hands. Shakeela is wearing a bright red headscarf with a black inner layer, and Nageena is wearing a light-colored and patterned suit and dupatta . The background shows greenery and a blurred building--Beedi industry
    Rights
    ‘One day, one day, the women will go out to protest…’
    A day in the life of two union leaders fighting for fair working conditions in Karnataka’s beedi industry and for the rights of their community.
    by Nageena Banu, Shakeela Banu | 2 min read
    two women sitting on the floor in a classroom, with numbers and the kannada alphabet painted on the walls behind them--community organiser
    Gender
    The girl who refused to drop out
    A day in the life of a young field coordinator in Raichur, Karnataka, reflecting her journey of almost dropping out of school to supporting herself, her family, and her community.
    by Rubiya Begum | 7 min read
    A picture of Parmeet in black t-shirt and blue jeans, sitting on a couch--deaf community
    Social Justice
    A book club, sign language, and our fight for Deaf rights
    A day in the life of a Deaf student and founder of a book club as he strives for awareness, inclusion, and building a shared space for the Deaf community.
    by Parmeet Singh | 2 min read

    Failure Files

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    Social change leaders chronicle their failures and lessons learnt.
    Silhouetted birds perched on bare tree_leadership failure
    Leadership & Talent
    Building team culture isn’t optional
    A nonprofit co-founder reflects on how scaling rapidly unintentionally alienated employees, which led to cracks in organisational culture.
    by Vijayalakshmi Mohan | 7 min read
    Aerial shot of women protestors sitting_well-being
    Social Justice
    Preparing for a marathon, not a sprint 
    Dalit civil rights activist Thenmozhi Soundararajan on why failure is an opportunity to build power, how systems of oppression affect well-being, and what healing looks like for individuals and communities.
    by India Development Review | 10 min read
    Barbed wire_nonprofits
    Leadership & Talent
    Why don’t nonprofits talk about their failures?
    A number of risks, both real and perceived, stop nonprofits from talking about failure. Here's how various stakeholders can work together to overcome them.
    by Tanaya Jagtiani, Rachita Vora | 7 min read

    IDR Interviews

    SEE ALL
    Conversations with visionaries on their life's work, and their efforts to challenge the status quo in our country.
    a digital sketch of Dr Carmo Noronha against a pale blue background--
    "It's no use telling a child that one plus one is two… Unless you tell them how they can use that to actually improve their daily life."
    Dr Carmo Noronha
    2 min read
    a digital portrait of Dr Ram Punyani against a pale green background--communalism in india
    "By the time the truth puts on its shoes to step out, the lie has already travelled around the world."
    Dr Ram Puniyani
    2 min read
    an illustration of Rajim Ketwas, a Dalit, Adivasi, and gender rights activist from Chhattisgarh--Dalit and Adivasi rights
    "Even if you struggle equally, get beaten up, and go to jail, it is hard for men to accept women as leaders. They may accept a woman from an upper caste, because caste hierarchy plays a role. But it is much more difficult for an Adivasi or Dalit woman, no matter how educated or capable she is."
    Rajim Ketwas
    9 min read

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    Sectors

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    Insights and analysis of specific sectors in the development arena—what works, what doesn't, and what needs to change.

    See all coverage by topic:
  • Agriculture
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Health & Well-being
  • Livelihoods
  • Rights
  • Water & Sanitation
    • The image features the authors, Shakeela Banu and Nageena Banu. They are standing outdoors smiling warmly at each other while holding hands. Shakeela is wearing a bright red headscarf with a black inner layer, and Nageena is wearing a light-colored and patterned suit and dupatta . The background shows greenery and a blurred building--Beedi industry
    Rights
    ‘One day, one day, the women will go out to protest…’
    A day in the life of two union leaders fighting for fair working conditions in Karnataka’s beedi industry and for the rights of their community.
    by Nageena Banu, Shakeela Banu | 2 min read
    a farmer carrying paddy harvest on his shoulder--jhum farmers
    Livelihoods
    Mamit’s jhum farmers are navigating a crisis without a plan
    In Mamit, Mizoram, jhum farmers face multiple crises through erratic weather, rodent attacks, and failed plantation shifts.
    by Rodingliana | 4 min read
    a black-and-white image of a teacher sitting on the floor with her students--foundational learning
    Education
    Rethinking the foundations of early learning
    The 2025 Teaching Learning Practices Survey demonstrates how gaps in participation, writing, and classroom talk are affecting foundational learning outcomes.
    by Akhila Pydah | 8 min read

    Themes

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    Approaches and ideas that cut across sectors and counter the dominant narratives around us.

    See all coverage by topic:
  • Advocacy & Government
  • Climate Emergency
  • Collaboration
  • COVID-19
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Ecosystem Development
  • Gender
  • Inequality
  • Philanthropy & CSR
  • Scale
  • Social Business
  • Social Justice
  • Urban
  • Youth
    • a network of flyovers and highways--systems change
    Scale
    Government is a nonprofit’s best bet for big impact
    The pathway to solving the root problem instead of treating symptoms runs through the public system.
    by Tim Hanstad | 7 min read
    a street vendor sitting under a tree with his cart, loaded with plastic water bottles, next to him--urban heat in India
    Climate Emergency
    Urban heat in India: What we know
    Drawing on insights from IDR articles, we explore key questions about why cities are getting hotter and who is most at risk.
    by India Development Review | 7 min read
    a factory floor with several workers, one of whom is welding a large metal tube--energy transition
    Ecosystem Development
    Is India’s energy transition failing its MSMEs?
    Energy audits in over 60 textile dyeing units show that simple efficiency measures could cut fuel use by up to 20 percent. So why aren't small manufacturers adopting them?
    by Gaurav Saraswat, Sowmya Dhanaraj | 7 min read

    Expertise

    SEE ALL
    Skills and functions that are core to growing programmes and organisations.

    See all coverage by topic:
  • Board & Governance
  • Fundraising & Communications
  • Leadership & Talent
  • Monitoring & Evaluation
  • Programme
  • Technology
    • scrabble letters spelling the word
    Board & Governance
    FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026: How does it affect nonprofits?
    The proposed amendments put nonprofits at risk of losing assets built with foreign funds when their FCRA registration lapses or is cancelled.
    by Nivedita Krishna, Naman Khatwani | 4 min read
    four people, two men and two women, in santa hats standing behind a counter selling teddy bears and a variety of plastic toys--crowdfunding in Mizoram
    Health & Well-being
    Medical crowdfunding in Mizoram has no shortcuts
    From identifying patients to mobilising donors, health-related fundraising demands sustained effort from nonprofits.
    by Emmanuel Thangrosanga | 4 min read
    two young men looking at desktop monitors--social sector recruitment
    Leadership & Talent
    Hiring for context, and not just skill
    Practitioners share lessons on hiring for grassroots organisations, keeping values and community fit at the centre.
    by Rajika Seth, Rakesh Swami | 6 min read
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