Background:

Diwakar Kumar is a Policy Fellow at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, working at National Institute of Science Education and research Bhubaneshwar. His academic and professional expertise spans public policy, agricultural innovation, rural development, and sustainability. He has previously taught courses in Public Policy, Business Environment, Sustainability, and Business Research Methods at JG University, bringing a multidisciplinary approach to his teaching and research.

His MPhil/Ph.D. research, titled “Agricultural Innovation, Extension, and Policy Measures for Rural Development: A Case Study of Agricultural Universities in Gujarat,” focused on the intersection of policy, technology dissemination, and rural development. Using an ethnography-based case study methodology, the thesis examined the political economy of agricultural advancements and the role of agricultural universities in Gujarat. The research provides valuable insights into the complexities of policy implementation, innovation diffusion, and their impacts on rural communities.

With a keen interest in the political economy of agricultural inputs, his work explores power dynamics, policies, and economic structures shaping the production, distribution, and accessibility of these inputs. My interdisciplinary foundation, exemplified by M.A. in Tribal Law and Governance from the Central University of Jharkhand, that enriches my understanding of social and economic systems.