Certificate Programme in Technology and Policy

A 12-week certificate programme on the economics, politics, and ethics of technology for the people building it, regulating it, and living with the consequences.

Politics of the current age is for technology, of technology and increasingly by technology. Technology is no longer just a tool; it’s at the centre of national power, economic growth, and societal change. This raises important questions for all of us:

  • What will it take to strengthen India’s own research and development ecosystem?
  • How can we build technology responsibly and anticipate its unintended consequences?
  • Why are technology and national power increasingly part of the same conversation?

This programme is designed to enable participants to answer such questions. It equips technologists, lawyers, civil society, and policymakers with the knowledge and skills to understand the economics of tech platforms, navigate the political economy, find an ethical orientation, and lead the public discourse. Participants will gain the skills and frameworks to create technology responsibly, advancing the public interest alongside business interests.

Who This Programme is For

Technologists and Engineers

You are under pressure to ship first and ask questions later. This programme gives you the policy frameworks and vocabulary to build responsibly.

Policy Professionals

Governance has to balance multiple often conflicting priorities and keep pace with innovation. This programme will ask the right questions and spot the wrong answers.

Lawyers and Regulators

You’re a legal professional working on technology regulation, data privacy, and digital governance. You need to understand how information economics, network effects, and switching costs work.

Business Leaders

You need to navigate the rapidly evolving technology landscape. This programme helps you stop reacting to developments and start anticipating them.

How It Works

Designed for working professionals around the work week — Saturday webinars, 7–10 hours of weekly commitment, and a 3-day in-person workshop you can plan around.

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

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

Online conference featuring research presentations and panel discussions. A two-day online conference in week 5 that bridges the core modules and your specialisation. Keynote sessions and breakout tracks covering relevant policy issues from practicing experts.

3-day in-person workshop near Bengaluru where you work through real policy problems in teams. Past cohorts have tackled India’s R&D ecosystem, semiconductor strategy, AI governance, supply chain resilience, and rare-earth minerals.”

Graduate Certificate in Public Policy upon successful completion.

Join a network of 7,000+ Takshashila alumni across government, tech, law, and civil society and engage with faculty who are active researchers and practitioners.

Key Dates

Milestone Date
Early bird deadline (10% scholarship) 29 March 2026
Application deadline 26 April 2026
Programme begins 9 May 2026
Academic Conference 6–7 June 2026
Workshop (near Bengaluru) 17–19 July 2026
Programme ends 1 August 2026

Application Process and Fee Structure

  • Individuals with an undergraduate degree in any field are welcome to apply.
  • The programme is designed for working professionals. Work experience is preferred but not mandatory.
  • The programme fee is ₹42,000 (plus GST). Fees, once paid, are non-refundable. Students will have the option to defer their admission to one subsequent batch.
  • Limited merit and need-based scholarships are available. Early applicants will have a significant advantage in availing scholarships.
  • Corporate sponsorship options are available.

GCPP Cohort 44

Starts: 9 May 2026

Early bird: 29 March 2026

Apply before: 26 April 2026

Fee: ₹ 42,000 + 18% GST

Apply Now

What You’ll Learn

Core Modules (Weeks 1–5)

This module explores the foundations of public policy, from understanding nations, states, and governments to examining the paradoxes and pitfalls governments face.

Learning Units:

  • Introduction to Public Policy
  • Nations, States, and Governments
  • Paradoxes and Pitfalls of the Government
  • Goals of the Government and Things Governments Do
  • Introduction to Kautilya’s Arthashasthra

This module explores the fundamental principles of economics, from understanding economic reasoning and the price system to trade and government intervention in markets.

Learning Units:

  • Introduction to Economic Reasoning
  • The Price System
  • Market Dynamics
  • Introduction to Macroeconomics
  • Trade
  • Government Intervention in Markets

This module aims to get you to start writing. It also provides an overview of the role of narratives and their use in political and policy communication.

Learning Units:

  • Basics of Writing
  • Understanding the Media Environment
  • Political and Policy Narratives

Specialisation Modules (Weeks 5–12)

This module examines the economic, social and geopolitical impacts of technology in the AI age.

Learning Units:

  • Introduction to Politics and Policy in the AI Age
  • Ethics in Technology and Policy
  • AI diffusion and its Impact on the Economy
  • AI and National Power
  • India’s Tech Policy Landscape

This module covers frameworks to anticipate society’s reaction to technology and take well-informed policy decisions that prioritise the public interest.

Learning Units:

  • Social Impact Analysis and Responsible Strategy
  • Policy Simulation Exercise.

The economics of information goods differ from conventional goods. This module examines how the distribution and utilization of information affect markets and decision-making processes.

Learning Units:

  • Nature and Pricing of Information Goods
  • Switching Costs and Lock-In
  • Network Effects
  • Setting Standards
  • Market Power and Regulation; Market Failures.

Nations are vying for dominance in critical and emerging technologies. This module explores the relationship between technology and national power and examines developments in key sectors.

Learning Units:

  • Technology and National Power
  • State of India’s Tech Ecosystem
  • Case Studies in High Tech Geopolitics

Faculty

View all faculty

Video Highlights

What Our Students Say

“For over a decade, I’ve been at the crossroads of finance and tech. GCPP (Tech and Policy) 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 Reddy, GCPP (Technology and Policy) Alumnus

“I work at the crossroads of technology and policy. Taking the GCPP (TP) greatly aided my grasp of fundamental public policy principles and their practical implementations in real-world situations. The faculty’s willingness to listen to diverse student perspectives and engage in open dialogues was remarkable. I consistently apply these concepts in my daily work. I wholeheartedly endorse this course.”

— Divya Pinge, GCPP (Technology and Policy) Alumnus

“As an urban policy planner engaged in technology policy governance, the GCPP (TP) programme at Takshashila was immensely valuable. The course provided a stimulating environment, uniting like-minded professionals from diverse backgrounds. What set this programme apart was its ability to incorporate real-world developments, keeping the course content relevant. Contextualising tech policy in the Indian landscape added depth to my understanding. Crafting policy ideas from scratch and collaborating in group projects were both enlightening and practical experiences. I take away fond memories from the few months immersed in this programme.”

— Maulik Thakkar, GCPP (Technology and Policy) Alumnus

“The courses were well-structured, diving deep into the intersection of technology and public policy. The exceptional faculty brought valuable insights and real-world perspectives that greatly enriched the learning experience. The interactive sessions, case studies, and group discussions fostered a collaborative environment, enhanced by the diverse peer group from various professional backgrounds.”

— Arinjay Singh, GCPP (Technology and Policy) Alumnus

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Course

No, we have not sought approval from any government body. Our priority is to offer top-notch education to individuals who seek it. However, it’s important to note that the GCPP may not be recognised as a means of career advancement.

No. The programme primarily targets individuals seeking to understand the policy/technology ecosystem well. GCPP students have found employment in public affairs consulting, think tanks, civil society organisations and private corporations. Several alumni have also taken up master’s and PhD programmes in public policy and related fields at renowned universities worldwide.

Fees and Financial Assistance

The course fee is INR 42,000 (excluding 18% GST) and is to be paid after admission. The registration fee of INR 500 has been waived. Once the course fee is paid, it is non-refundable. Students can defer to one of the next two batches at no additional cost if they wish.

We advise applicants to only apply for financial support if they cannot afford to take the course without it. A limited number of scholarships will be available to deserving candidates who require financial assistance. Applicants requesting financial support will be required to explain why they need it. They may be asked to submit additional information and supporting documents if their application is approved for admission and financial support. It’s important to note that financial support is not guaranteed. If a student who has received financial support fails to complete the course satisfactorily, they will be responsible for paying the full fees.

Application Process and Admissions

Individuals with a minimum of 3 years of work experience in various fields, particularly in technology entrepreneurship, government, media, civil society organisations, business, and corporate management, are well placed to take advantage of what the course offers. Nevertheless, individuals with less work experience and even full-time undergraduate students are encouraged to apply.

Students do not necessarily have to be based in India to participate. However, it is important to note that all webinars will be scheduled in IST. Therefore, students are encouraged to check for time differences and ensure the timing suits them.

To participate in the sessions, students should possess fundamental computer skills and a reliable internet connection (ideally a broadband connection of 256kbps or above). As all the sessions take place online, it is recommended to attend the live webinars through a laptop or desktop computer.

At the time of application, students are not required to send any documents through the mail. However, the Takshashila Institution reserves the right to request applicants to provide supporting documents for their educational qualifications and employment history.

Dynamic undergraduate students from any discipline can apply, and a few scholarships will be available to deserving candidates. Please note that all students will follow the same curriculum.

Open Course in Public Policy (OCPP): This is a free course to understand & transform governance in India. It is a self-paced online course. However, it is not a replacement for the GCPP programme we offer, which includes live online classes conducted by subject-matter experts, workshops, academic conferences, quizzes, and group activities. If you have successfully completed the OCPP, you can get in touch with us, and we will offer a scholarship for the 12-week GCPP programme.

Schedule

Although attendance at the workshop and conference is mandatory, students who are unable to attend can request deferment by providing adequate reasons for their inability to participate. If a student chooses to defer, these components can be completed with one of the two subsequent cohorts. If students complete all other requirements except the contact workshops, they’ll receive a Citation of Completion of Studies, which can be converted into the full Graduate Certificate once they complete the workshop and conference within the stipulated deferment period.

The Academic Conference is planned for the fifth weekend for all specialisations. The workshop is planned for the tenth weekend of the course for APP and TP specialisations and for the twelfth weekend for the DFA specialisation. The Academic Conference will be held online, while the Workshop will be in-person.

The classes for the programme will be conducted as interactive webinars online on weekends, typically on Saturdays. It is advisable for students to keep the time slot of 9:30 am to 3:30 pm on Saturdays free during the programme. Students who attend 70% or more of the live webinars typically perform well.

Occasional webinars may take place on weeknights, subject to the availability of guest speakers and faculty. These webinars are typically scheduled after 7:00 PM IST.

To ensure the successful completion of readings and coursework, it is suggested that students allocate approximately seven to ten hours per week. Every student has their own pace, so this estimate serves as a general guideline.