Graduate Certificate in Public Policy

Technology and Policy

The politics of the current age are of technology, for technology, and increasingly, by technology. Technology is at the centre of national power, economic growth, and societal change.

GCPP Cohort 44

FORMAT	12 weeks · online
CADENCE	Saturdays · 9:30–15:30 IST
WORKSHOP	in-person · 3 days · near Bengaluru
EARLY BIRD	29 March 2026 · 10% scholarship
APPLY BY	26 April 2026
PROGRAMME BEGINS	09 May 2026
PROGRAMME ENDS	01 August 2026
FEE	₹42,000 + 18% GST

Begin Application →

Some of the questions this programme enables participants to answer

Q.01 ────────── What will it take to strengthen India's research and development ecosystem?

Q.02 ────────── How will AI reshape economic and political power — and who gets to decide?

Q.03 ────────── What does it take to compete when geopolitics is increasingly intertwined with technology?

Q.04 ────────── Why do digital markets concentrate around a handful of players — and what does that mean for competition, innovation, and the public interest?

Q.05 ────────── Why do well-intentioned technology policies so often go wrong?

Q.06 ────────── How can technologists anticipate the social and political reactions of their work and build more responsibly?

Who this programme is for

You're under pressure to ship first and ask questions later.

Policy frameworks and vocabulary to build responsibly.

Governance balances conflicting priorities and must keep pace with innovation.

Ask the right questions. Spot the wrong answers.

You work on tech regulation, data privacy, digital governance.

Understand information economics, network effects, switching costs.

The technology landscape is evolving faster than your roadmap.

Stop reacting to developments. Start anticipating them.

How it works

Designed for working professionals

Saturday webinars, 7–10 hours of weekly commitment, and a 3-day in-person workshop you can plan around.

Core policy modules

Five weeks covering policy analysis, economic reasoning, and effective communication.

Technology specialisation

Seven weeks covering politics and policy of the AI age, responsible strategy, information economics, and high-tech geopolitics.

Online academic conference

Two-day online conference in week 5 — keynote sessions and breakout tracks with practising experts.

In-person policy simulation

3-day workshop near Bengaluru. Past cohorts have tackled R&D ecosystems, semiconductor strategy, AI governance, and supply chain resilience.

Certificate & alumni network

Graduate Certificate in Public Policy. Join 10,000+ Takshashila alumni across government, tech, law, and civil society.

Curriculum

MODULE.01 ──────────

Policy Analysis and Concepts

Foundations of public policy — nations, states, governments, and the paradoxes they face.

UNITS

• U.01Introduction to Public Policy
• U.02Nations, States, and Governments
• U.03Paradoxes and Pitfalls of the Government
• U.04Goals of the Government
• U.05Introduction to Kautilya's Arthashastra

MODULE.02 ──────────

Economic Reasoning for Public Policy

Economic reasoning, the price system, trade, and government intervention in markets.

UNITS

• U.01Introduction to Economic Reasoning
• U.02The Price System
• U.03Market Dynamics
• U.04Introduction to Macroeconomics
• U.05Trade
• U.06Government Intervention in Markets

MODULE.03 ──────────

Effective Communication & Media Engagement

Gets you to start writing. Understand the role of narratives in political and policy communication.

UNITS

• U.01Basics of Writing
• U.02Understanding the Media Environment
• U.03Political and Policy Narratives

MODULE.01 ──────────

Politics and Policy in the AI Age

Economic, social, and geopolitical impacts of technology in the AI age.

UNITS

• U.01Introduction to Politics and Policy in the AI Age
• U.02AI Diffusion and its Impact on the Economy
• U.03AI and National Power

MODULE.02 ──────────

Responsible Strategy

Anticipate society's reaction and build technology responsibly.

UNITS

• U.01Social Impact Analysis and Responsible Strategy
• U.02Ethics in Technology and Policy
• U.03Policy Simulation Exercise

MODULE.03 ──────────

Information Economics

How the economics of information goods differ from conventional goods — and what that means for markets and regulation.

UNITS

• U.01Nature and Pricing of Information Goods
• U.02Switching Costs and Lock-In
• U.03Network Effects
• U.04Setting Standards
• U.05Market Power and Regulation

MODULE.04 ──────────

High-Tech Geopolitics

States vie for dominance in critical and emerging technologies. Examine the relationship between technology and national power.

UNITS

• U.01Technology and National Power
• U.02State of India's Tech Ecosystem
• U.03Case Studies in High-Tech Geopolitics

Workshop
Three days, in person

Every cohort, we take a group of smart, curious people and throw a genuinely hard policy problem at them. After the workshop, we walk out with a much clearer picture of why the problem is so hard, and some real ideas for what to do about it.

The Policy Simulation Workshop is a highlight of the GCPP. By the time you arrive, you’ve spent many weeks thinking about economic reasoning, policy analysis, ethics, tech geopolitics, and the workshop problem itself. The three days at the venue are where it comes together: research and analysis get distilled into a defended position.

Topics focus on issues that are part of the policy debate. Recent cohorts have worked on India’s R&D ecosystem, AI governance, semiconductor strategy, supply chain resilience, rare-earth mineral security, and genetically modified crops.

Participants bear expenses for travel to the venue, food, and accommodation. The workshop takes place over three days near Bengaluru.

Application process
and fees

Programme fee ₹42,000 + 18% GST

Once paid, fees are non-refundable. Students may defer admission to one of two subsequent batches.

Eligibility

Individuals with an undergraduate degree in any field are welcome to apply. Work experience is preferred but not mandatory.

Scholarships

Limited merit and need-based scholarships are available. Early applicants have a significant advantage when scholarships are awarded.

Corporate sponsorship

Many participants attend with their employer's support. Write to us at gctp@takshashila.org.in if your organisation needs specifics.

More questions?

Have specific questions about eligibility, deferment, or schedule? See the full FAQs.

Cohort 44 Calendar

Designed around the work week. Webinars and workshops fall on weekends.

APPLY NOW →

T-02Early bird (10% scholarship)29 Mar 2026

T-01Application deadline26 Apr 2026

T+00Programme begins9 May 2026

T+01Academic conference6–7 Jun 2026

T+02Workshop · Near Bengaluru17–19 Jul 2026

T+03Programme ends1 Aug 2026

Faculty

From the cohort

" For over a decade, I've been at the crossroads of finance and tech. GCPP offered a deep dive into policy, regulation, and ethics within tech. Despite being online, Takshashila excelled in delivering engaging webinars and workshops with experienced professionals.

Karthik ReddyGCPP / TP

" I work at the crossroads of technology and policy. The GCPP greatly aided my grasp of fundamental public policy principles and their practical implementations. The faculty's willingness to engage in open dialogues was remarkable. I consistently apply these concepts in my daily work.

Divya PingeGCPP / TP

" As an urban policy planner engaged in technology policy governance, I found the GCPP programme immensely valuable. What set it apart was its ability to incorporate real-world developments and contextualise tech policy in the Indian landscape.

Maulik ThakkarGCPP / TP

" The courses were well-structured, diving deep into the intersection of technology and public policy. The interactive sessions, case studies, and group discussions fostered a collaborative environment, enhanced by the diverse peer group from various professional backgrounds.

Arinjay SinghGCPP / TP

Apply for Cohort 44

EARLY-BIRD 29 MAR · DEADLINE 26 APR · STARTS 9 MAY 2026
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? READ THE FAQs

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