Independent Research Think Tank · Est. 2010

Rigorous research. Real impact.

India Institute conducts rigorous social science research in education, critical thinking, and social equity - and translates evidence into policy that expands dignity, choice, and opportunity for individuals across India.

Explore our work → Latest from the field →
34,000+
survey respondents for interviews on education, employment, mobility, state capacity, wellbeing & attitudes
11,700+
student assessments covering learning levels, thinking skills, aspirations, and mental health
9
languages and diverse cultural settings across our research sites
3
flagship projects active in three verticals
Flagship Research

What we are working on right now

Active research projects with government partnerships, academic collaborators, and findings ready for release.

Tamil Nadu Critical Thinking Curriculum RCT
Critical Thinking · Education

Tamil Nadu Critical Thinking Curriculum RCT

Can structured classroom instruction build critical thinking in middle-school students? We ran the RCT with the Tamil Nadu School Education Department across 41 schools with 6,711 students.

RCT complete · Report forthcoming Visit project →
Parental Engagement in School Management Committees
Education

Parental Engagement in School Management Committees

Surveying 2,000+ parents, 200 school leaders, and 50 local counsellors across one Tamil Nadu district to understand barriers to meaningful parental engagement in school governance.

Report expected June 2026 View findings →
SAMAM: Discrimination & Development in Rural South India
Measurements · Social Equity

SAMAM: Discrimination & Development in Rural South India

Six research questions. Nine interlocking survey modules. Three generations per household. Examining how caste, mobility, social capital, and mental health interact in rural Tamil Nadu.

Field testing 2026 samam.indiai.org →
Programme Areas

Education

Parent engagement in school governance, school management accountability, and curriculum innovation. Research conducted with the Tamil Nadu School Education Department.

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Critical Thinking

Building resilience against misinformation through validated curriculum, the Misinformation Susceptibility Index, and public engagement.

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Measurements

Five validated instruments for social equity indicators – discrimination, mobility, social capital, mental health, and casteist attitudes.

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India Institute received the Templeton Freedom Award in 2012 and won the Think Tank Shark Tank Global Competition in 2014 — among the first Asian think tanks to earn international recognition for research advancing individual freedom and institutional accountability.
2012
Templeton Freedom Award
2014
Think Tank Shark Tank Global Winner
Research & Government Partners
Public Reason

From the field