IDR Hindi
Comic strip depicting how social sector employees paint for-profit institutions as the villain on most days, but also invest in these same institutions through mutual funds/shares when they receive their salaries.-nonprofit humour
Humour

Riddles of the social impact sector Ep 4

Balancing principles and paycheques!
by Meet Kakadiya | 2 min read

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Latest

dual embankments, with a mud mound next to water-water bodies
Environment
Restoring urban wetlands: A case study from Tamil Nadu
An urban lake restoration project near Chennai demonstrates how scientific interventions and community participation can recover lost biodiversity and support environmental sustainability.
by Shri Krishna M | 7 min read
Disability rights activist Pappu Kanwar in Barmer, Rajasthan--disability rights
Diversity & Inclusion
An activist fights for gender equality and disability rights in Rajasthan
A day in the life of an activist from Barmer, Rajasthan, who battles ableism, casteism, and violence against women.
by Pappu Kanwar | 6 min read
a beautiful lush green scene in Thekkady-nature-based solutions
Climate Emergency
IDR Explains | Nature-based Solutions
In six questions, learn about this ecological approach to the climate crisis, with examples, history, advantages and challenges.
by India Development Review | 7 min read
yellow and grey bricks in lego_leadership
Leadership & Talent
Attracting young leaders to the social sector
Young professionals from the private sector can bring valuable skills to the social sector, but nonprofits often struggle to attract and retain them. How can this change?
by Rajneesh Chowdhury | 6 min read
Gray scale picture of an empty hallway_justice
Social Justice
How India punishes: Rethinking the use of criminal law
Despite claims of reform, India’s criminal laws still rely on arbitrary punishments, criminalising civil matters, and echoing colonial penal codes.
by Ayushi Sharma, Naveed Mehmood Ahmad | 7 min read

Ground Up

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Bite-sized stories from the people closest to the action.


Social Justice
Why does it take months to get a transgender identity certificate?
by Jaspreet Singh
Location Icon Jammu district, Jammu and Kashmir; Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir
Agriculture
photo
From pastor to entrepreneur in rural Nagaland
by Zacusa Medeo
Location Icon Phek district, Nagaland
Rights
photo
Why a Balti village in Ladakh supports the sixth schedule demand
by Ghulam Mehdi Shah
Location Icon Leh district, Ladakh
Livelihoods
photo
Assam’s flood-stricken pastoralists save their animals first
by Praveen S
Location Icon Barpeta district, Assam; Dhubri district, Assam

A day in the life of

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Frontline workers and first responders share their insights from working at the grassroots.


Disability rights activist Pappu Kanwar in Barmer, Rajasthan--disability rights
Diversity & Inclusion
An activist fights for gender equality and disability rights in Rajasthan
A day in the life of an activist from Barmer, Rajasthan, who battles ableism, casteism, and violence against women.
by Pappu Kanwar | 6 min read
Santosh Charan, an ASHA sahyogini in Chittorgarh--healthcare
Health
An ASHA stands up for herself and the women in her community
A day in the life of an ASHA sahyogini who isn't deterred by the challenges she faces in rural Rajasthan.
by Santosh Charan | 7 min read
Water & Sanitation
“My life has always been intertwined with the struggle for water”
A day in the life of an activist in Mumbai, who advocates for universal water access in the face of discriminatory policies.
by Pravin Borkar | 7 min read

Failure Files

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Social change leaders chronicle their failures and lessons learnt.

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 Rachita Vora, Tanaya Jagtiani | 7 min read
rural women take part in a boat race in west bengal-leadership
Leadership & Talent
The road to recovery
In Part II of a conversation with Dream a Dream CEO Suchetha Bhat and co-founder Vishal Talreja learn about what it took to rebuild an organisation in crisis, and why it needed a new kind of leadership.
by India Development Review | 15 min read

IDR Interviews

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Conversations with visionaries on their life's work, and their efforts to challenge the status quo in our country.

an image of Dayamani Barla against a turquoise background-adivasi
"Activists should go to places where laws are made and also where laws are implemented. If you don’t get into politics, you won’t be able to save the country."
Dayamani Barla
3 min read
Madhu mansuri hasmukh
"I spoke of the rights of Adivasis in my songs. When the state of Jharkhand was created, we had great aspirations, and  these aspirations are also woven into my songs."
Madhu Mansuri Hasmukh
8 min read
Narendra Gupta profile_healthcare
"If we have Right to Education, Right to Information, Right to Employment, Right to Food, Forest Right Act, then why not Right to Health?"
Dr Narendra Gupta
2 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
  • Livelihoods
  • Rights
  • Water & Sanitation
    • dual embankments, with a mud mound next to water-water bodies
    Environment
    Restoring urban wetlands: A case study from Tamil Nadu
    An urban lake restoration project near Chennai demonstrates how scientific interventions and community participation can recover lost biodiversity and support environmental sustainability.
    by Shri Krishna M | 7 min read
    a beautiful lush green scene in Thekkady-nature-based solutions
    Climate Emergency
    IDR Explains | Nature-based Solutions
    In six questions, learn about this ecological approach to the climate crisis, with examples, history, advantages and challenges.
    by India Development Review | 7 min read
    Gray scale picture of an empty hallway_justice
    Social Justice
    How India punishes: Rethinking the use of criminal law
    Despite claims of reform, India’s criminal laws still rely on arbitrary punishments, criminalising civil matters, and echoing colonial penal codes.
    by Ayushi Sharma, Naveed Mehmood Ahmad | 7 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
    • dual embankments, with a mud mound next to water-water bodies
    Environment
    Restoring urban wetlands: A case study from Tamil Nadu
    An urban lake restoration project near Chennai demonstrates how scientific interventions and community participation can recover lost biodiversity and support environmental sustainability.
    by Shri Krishna M | 7 min read
    Disability rights activist Pappu Kanwar in Barmer, Rajasthan--disability rights
    Diversity & Inclusion
    An activist fights for gender equality and disability rights in Rajasthan
    A day in the life of an activist from Barmer, Rajasthan, who battles ableism, casteism, and violence against women.
    by Pappu Kanwar | 6 min read
    a beautiful lush green scene in Thekkady-nature-based solutions
    Climate Emergency
    IDR Explains | Nature-based Solutions
    In six questions, learn about this ecological approach to the climate crisis, with examples, history, advantages and challenges.
    by India Development Review | 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
    • yellow and grey bricks in lego_leadership
    Leadership & Talent
    Attracting young leaders to the social sector
    Young professionals from the private sector can bring valuable skills to the social sector, but nonprofits often struggle to attract and retain them. How can this change?
    by Rajneesh Chowdhury | 6 min read
    A person at the organ donation counter_volunteer
    Leadership & Talent
    From volunteers to engaged citizens
    As interest in volunteering grows, how can nonprofits turn this energy into lasting citizen engagement?
    by Shishir Joshi | 8 min read
    A woman in a crowd filming with a flip phone-technology
    Technology
    How philanthropists can support responsible technology in India
    As India’s digital ecosystem expands, here’s what funders need to do to help build technologies that work in the best interest of people and mitigate digital harms.
    by India Development Review | 6 min read
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