The initiative aims to strengthen industry-academia linkages and support innovative research with direct relevance to India’s infrastructure development.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, The Infravision Foundation (TIF) has announced the launch of an award to recognise and celebrate outstanding doctoral research that can advance India’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 in the infrastructure domain.
Titled the InfraPandit Awards, the initiative aims to strengthen industry-academia linkages and support innovative research with direct relevance to India’s infrastructure development. With a dual emphasis on academic rigour and real-world applicability, it is expected to foster meaningful collaboration with TIF’s ongoing work in the sector.
As an independent think tank, TIF is committed to shaping public discourse and informing policy through actionable research and advocacy. The InfraPandit Awards will recognise exemplary PhD dissertations in fields including engineering, technology, management, finance, public policy, economics, and urban planning. Each award will carry a jury citation and a cash prize. Two awardees will be selected for 2025.
Announcing the awards at a launch event in Mumbai, jury chair and former IIM Bangalore Director, Prof G Raghuram, described it as a “unique experiment that would spotlight the quality of research being undertaken.” TIF Founder and Managing Trustee Vinayak Chatterjee called it a much-needed initiative in light of India’s infrastructure-led development priorities.
“The discovery of the number of PhDs in this space will help translate good research into good practices,” he added.
Soumya Kant Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Adviser at the State Bank of India and newly appointed member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, was also present. As a jury member and TIF Distinguished Fellow, he said the awards would boost social, physical and digital infrastructure.
TIF Trustee and noted institution builder Kiran Karnik noted that the quality and transparency of the awards process would incentivise deeper academic engagement in infrastructure.
The selection process is now open to eligible candidates. Winners will be announced by 15 November 2025.