CPPR in the News

March 10, 2026

“Outdated bus routes hobble rapidly changing ‘new’ Kochi,” D Dhanuraj Comments on changing commuting patterns.

Kochi public transport routes must adapt to changing commuting patterns, says CPPR chairman D Dhanuraj.
March 9, 2026
XVI Finance Commission

The XVI Finance Commission – Putting India’s Urban Future and Urban Local Governments in the Forefront

The XVI Finance Commission submitted its report for the period 2026–2031 in November 2025, which was accepted by the GOI and tabled with the Explanatory Memorandum as to the Action Taken on the Recommendations Made by the Sixteenth Finance Commission […]
March 6, 2026

Violence Against Women in India: Rethinking Institutional Responses and Accountability

The 2025 research report, Violence Against Women and Girls: Strengthening Institutional Mechanisms Combating, published by the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), presents a comprehensive multi-state analysis of the legal and institutional frameworks addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG) […]
March 6, 2026
Oil Trade

Disruptions in the Hormuz Strait and the Future of Oil Trade

The announced closure of the Strait of Hormuz marks a decisive escalation in Gulf geopolitics, transforming a long-anticipated risk into an immediate economic shock. In the aftermath of the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian authorities […]
March 5, 2026
Kerala Election

“‘Kadakku Purathu’ vs ‘Irunda Kalam’: Can digital campaigns shape Kerala’s electoral narrative?” — D Dhanuraj of Centre for Public Policy Research weighs in on the online political battle ahead of the Kerala Assembly Elections 2026

Kerala online political campaigns 2026 highlight the rivalry of ‘Kadakku Purathu’ and ‘Irunda Kalam’ as parties shape narratives ahead of elections.
March 5, 2026
Vyttila

“Unclogging Vyttila: Fixing Kerala’s busiest junction needs more than a flyover”

Vyttila junction faces chronic congestion. Fixing Kerala’s busiest traffic hub requires broader transport planning beyond flyover solutions.
March 4, 2026
Tamil Nadu’s Fiscal Reality Before the Poll Promises Begin

Tamil Nadu’s Fiscal Reality Before the Poll Promises Begin

Before the promise race begins in Tamil Nadu’s 2026 elections, the state’s growing debt and shrinking fiscal space deserve closer scrutiny. As Tamil Nadu heads toward Assembly elections in April–May this year (2026), the political atmosphere is already warming up, […]
February 26, 2026

Enabling Diversification and Enhancing Competitiveness in Kerala’s Plantation Economy

Kerala has long been regarded as the “Plantation Enclave of India” (Kerala State Planning Board 2022), with crops such as tea, coffee, rubber, and cardamom occupying nearly 29% of the state’s gross cropped area, with over 10 lakh growers/farmers dependent […]
February 26, 2026

Rethinking Leasing Restrictions Under the Kerala Land Reforms Framework

The Kerala Land Reforms Act, 1963 (KLR Act) is widely regarded as one of India’s most progressive redistributive land reform legislations, having dismantled intermediary tenures and conferred ownership rights on cultivating tenants. While its equity objectives were historically transformative, the […]
February 26, 2026

EP 22 | Rebuilding Momentum in 2026: The Canadian Prime Minister’s Visit to India

  As India and Canada move toward stabilising a relationship that witnessed diplomatic strain in recent years, the proposed 2026 visit of the Canadian Prime Minister marks a critical moment in bilateral recalibration. Anchored by the resumption of Comprehensive Economic […]
February 25, 2026

Kerala Assembly Elections 2026: The Battle Lines are Drawn

Eleven decisive factors that will shape the outcome of Kerala’s most consequential election in a generation. The local body elections in December 2025 effectively set the tone for Kerala’s 2026 state assembly elections. With the UDF’s decisive victory in those […]
February 25, 2026
Affordable, but not accessible: Karnataka’s rural transport paradox

Affordable, but not accessible: Karnataka’s rural transport paradox

Photo Credit: Deccan Herald Karnataka has improved transport affordability through subsidies and schemes, yet reliable access remains uneven in rural areas. Using insights from Melukote, this article examines how limited services, regulatory barriers, and weak last-mile connectivity continue to restrict […]
February 24, 2026

കെ.എസ്.ആ.ർ.ടി.സിക്ക് കോടികൾ, സ്വകാര്യ ബസുകൾക്ക് നിയന്ത്രണങ്ങൾ: കേരളം ബസ് പെർമിറ്റ് സംവിധാനം ഉടച്ചുവാർക്കേണ്ടത് എന്തുകൊണ്ട്?

കെഎസ്ആർടിസിക്ക് ഗണ്യമായ സാമ്പത്തിക സഹായം നൽകിക്കൊണ്ട് പൊതുഗതാഗത സംവിധാനം നിലനിർത്താനുള്ള സംസ്ഥാനത്തിന്റെ പ്രതിജ്ഞാബദ്ധത കേരള ബജറ്റ് 2026 – 27 വീണ്ടും ഉയർത്തിക്കാട്ടി. ബജറ്റ് പ്രസംഗം അനുസരിച്ച്, ഈ ഗവൺമെന്റിന്റെ ഭരണകാലത്ത് ₹8,525.43 കോടി രൂപ കെഎസ്ആർടിസിക്ക് നൽകിയിട്ടുണ്ട് (ദിനംപ്രതി ശരാശരി ₹5 കോടി രൂപ). കെ.എസ്.ആർ.ടി.സിയിൽ ഇത്രയധികം നിക്ഷേപം നടത്തുമ്പോഴും, സർവീസുകളിൽ ഇന്നും വലിയൊരു […]
February 20, 2026

Why policy makers should look at Chennai’s autorickshaws for the future of last-mile delivery

Photo Credit: CNBC-TV18 Chennai’s autorickshaws could unlock cleaner, cheaper last-mile delivery for MSMEs, easing congestion, boosting driver incomes, and plugging a critical gap ignored by big-ticket logistics infrastructure. Chennai is often called the automobile capital of India—and for good reason. […]
February 19, 2026

The $50 Billion Reset: Navigating the New Geopolitics of Indo-Canadian Ties

In 2018, the Indo-Canadian relationship was labelled a “strategic partnership” with unrealised potential, limited by political tensions during the Trudeau era and insufficient institutional depth. In a CPPR blog that year, I questioned whether the relationship truly qualified as strategic, […]