The Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC), a premier think-tank which advises the Delhi government on key policy issues, has recently set up a 17-member high-level committee on reforming higher education in the national capital.

The panel, to be chaired by DDC vice-chairperson Jasmine Shah, will recommend goals, metrics, policies, and actionable plans for reforming Delhi’s higher education system within a year.

“Nalanda 2.0, a non-profit policy think tank with a mission to make India’s higher education system world class, is the knowledge partner of DDC on this initiative,” a government official said.

The other members of the committee are Pramod Bhasin, founder Genpact and co-founder Ashoka University; Arindam Bhattacharya, senior partner and director, BCG; Abhishek Gupta, skill development expert; Pankaj Jalote, founding director, IIIT Delhi; Devesh Kapur, director of Asia Programs and professor, Johns Hopkins University; Gaurav Khanna, assistant professor of Economics, UC San Diego; Sandeep Kumar, secretary (higher education), Delhi government, among others.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said this initiative furthers the government’s commitment to transform the education system in the national capital.

“Over the last few years, Delhi came to be known all over the world for the innovations in its government schools – be it the happiness curriculum, infrastructure overhaul, teacher training initiatives or more recently entrepreneurship curriculum.

“We also wish to make Delhi a knowledge and innovation centre where some of the best talent in the world would want to live, study, and work as faculty members, students, and professionals,” Sisodia said.