Why the India Research Corps?
Despite the growing emphasis on evidence-based policy and practice, research often fails to inform real-world decision-making. Through our work, we have identified several gaps that limit the impact of research: misalignment between stakeholders, skill mismatches within research teams, and constraints around funding and time.
What are the Issues?
Stakeholder Misalignment
Too often, researchers operate in isolation, guided by academic curiosity or theoretical relevance, without actively engaging with the people who ultimately use the findings. Decision-makers are rarely asked what kind of evidence they need.
This disconnect signals a larger systemic issue: research agendas are often set without inputs from those who depend on the results. Without that dialogue, we miss the opportunity to generate knowledge that is timely, relevant, and ready for uptake.
Skill Mismatches
Research teams may lack expertise in communication, policy translation, or stakeholder engagement—skills that are critical for bridging the divide between research and practice.
Even when alignment and skills are in place, funding and time constraints can limit our ability to act quickly on emerging priorities.
Funding and Time Constraints
Closing these gaps requires a shift in how we design, fund, and conduct research.
It means building stronger relationships with stakeholders from the start, co-creating research questions, and equipping research teams with the tools to communicate findings in ways that are practical and persuasive.
Bridging the Gap through India Research Corps
To bridge this gap, the India Research Corps (IRC) proposes taking on the role of a knowledge broker. On the one hand, we curate grounded, policy-relevant research questions from government agencies, civil society organisations, and implementation partners. On the other hand, we match these questions with student researchers who are passionate about working on real-world problems.
But the match is just the start. We also provide students with structured mentorship, guidance, and access to modest funding and field connections. Our goal is to ensure that their research is not only methodologically sound but also outcome-oriented, relevant, and well-communicated to the audiences who need it most.
By acting as a bridge between the academic and practitioner worlds, IRC helps transform graduate research from an academic exercise into a meaningful contribution to social impact. In doing so, we also build the next generation of researchers who are equipped, not just intellectually but practically and ethically, to engage with society’s most urgent challenges.
View the research we have facilitated.
Would you like to be a part of the India Research Corps?
You can work with us as a research scholar, client, or mentor.