COFFEEECONTALK S1 Ep 6

COFFEEECONTALK is an interview series which is posted on GIPE’s undergrad YouTube channel on the last day of every month. It is a part of The 8:10 newsletter’s Econcordia section and thus revolves around Economics, Business and Finance.

This episode is also a part of COFFEEFEBRUARY- because we are hoping to reduce the chill factor this winter by feasting on some double brewed coffee!

Here’s what’s in store for this episode!

For the sixth episode of COFFEEECONTALK we have the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Janak Nabar. Janak is the CEO of the Centre for Technology, Innovation and Economic Research (CTIER). 

This interview was conducted by Siya and Madhura. Siya started off the interview and her first question for Janak was about his thoughts on the innovation requirements of the Indian education sector. The interview continues with a discussion about whether some sectors in India were operating at a sub-optimal capacity, India’s innovation scene pre and post 1991 and policies which fuelled innovation that we could borrow from around the world. They conclude the interview by analysing the recent startup boom in India and the influence exerted by innovation on it. Check out the video for more!

Questions

  1. (0:33) Given the growing emphasis of innovation in public policies and private firms, what sort of reforms do you think are required in the education sector to ensure that students can fulfil the innovation requirements of the firms that they’ll go on to work with and of the Indian economy in general?
  2. (4:04) The COVID-19 Pandemic forced humanity to develop vaccines in almost a year. Had it not been for the pandemic, we might have never discovered this incredible production capacity that we possess. In which other sectors do you think we are unknowingly operating at a sub-optimal capacity. Also, is there any potential to reduce costs- both in terms of time and money in these sectors?
  3. (8:19) What was the scenario for innovation in India like before 1991- and how did things change after 1991?
  4. (10:07) What, according to you, are some policies that India can adopt from around the world for promoting local innovation?
  5. (13:38) As of recently, India has experienced a boom in startups. How much, do you think, has this changing scenario been influenced by an uptick in innovation in the Indian markets, both in the form of demand and supply? And how will these dynamics shape the future of innovation happening in India?

References and suggested readings

  1. CTIER publications.
  2. Book: The Struggle And The Promise By Dr. Naushad Forbes.
  3. Book: India Transformed: 25 Years of Economic Reforms By Dr. Rakesh Mohan.

Interview conducted by Siya Sharma (FYBSc Div-2, 2021-2024) and Madhura Joshi (SYBSc Div-2, 2020-2023).

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