Earlier today, as part of the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ 2018 Global Development Forum, a group of distinguished analysts discussed the role of India’s state governments in building economic success. How can Indian states aid development? What is the role of state democracy in ensuring good policy? These questions and others were answered in a very engaging forum.

The forum featured Irfan Nooruddin, the director of the India Initiative and the Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Professor of Indian Politics in the Asian Studies Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. Nooruddin is well known for his two landmark books, “Elections in Hard Times: Building Stronger Democracies in the 21st Century” and “Coalition Politics and Economic Development: Credibility and the Strength of Weak Governments“. Also featured at the event were Vivek Aggarwal, Rajiv Kr. Bora and Jessica Seddon, PhD. From the event description:

States are the gamechangers when talking about India’s prospects for growth and development. Given the major development challenges that India will face over the next few decades in the healthcare, water, energy, and infrastructure sectors, it is important to discuss the underappreciated – yet critical – role played by state governments.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) was established in Washington, D.C. over 50 years ago and continues to play a crucial role as a bipartisan, nonprofit policy research organization. The video is about 70 minutes. Take a look: