From Classroom to Career: How Data analysis shapes policy Leaders

Data plays a critical role in shaping policy decisions. It helps policy leaders make informed choices, identify gaps, and measure impact. While there’s already an understanding of what’s lacking—especially in services for marginalized communities—it’s essential to quantify this knowledge. Without data to back it up, communicating needs and advocating for change becomes difficult.

Primary data is often preferred for its direct insights, but secondary data can also help provide a broader view. By analyzing secondary sources, policymakers can see the bigger picture and understand the web of interconnected factors. For example, in public health, access to services is influenced by more than just infrastructure. Factors like the availability of doctors, reliable transportation, public trust, and even whether people can afford to take a day off plays a significant role. However, when working with secondary data, one must be cautious of confirmation bias, making critical thinking skills essential.

The focus should always be on the quality of data rather than sheer volume. For instance, when designing a program for entrepreneurs, it’s vital to account for the diverse needs of different types of entrepreneurs to create inclusive solutions. Poor-quality data has led to countless examples of failed designs. The book Invisible Women, for instance, highlights how a lack of gender-inclusive data has resulted in poorly designed products and services.

For policy researchers, especially those working in unfamiliar communities, it’s important to collaborate with community researchers. This helps ensure a more granular understanding and incorporates cultural context into policy design. At the same time, it’s crucial to balance this with the researcher’s perspective when collecting and analyzing data.

Collecting disaggregated data, especially in a large, diverse country like India, is a significant challenge. Take street vendors as an example—they are often a transient population, making it difficult to gather timely data. However, gathering such data is essential for crafting policies that can have a real impact.

Another major challenge is the vast amount of data collected by governments, often without a clear objective. The absence of a unified data repository adds to the complexity, leading to discrepancies. Additionally, the manual nature of data collection creates verification issues. While there is no perfect solution to this, emerging technologies like AI and machine learning could help streamline data processing and improve its quality.

It’s not always about collecting all data, but about filtering the right data and presenting it in a simpler, actionable form. A good example of this is the ASER report from the NGO Pratham. Their work on foundational literacy and numeracy shifted the narrative from focusing solely on school enrollment to learning outcomes, which in turn influenced the development of the New Education Policy.

Data is an essential tool for shaping effective and impactful public policy. While it’s crucial to identify gaps and understand the needs of marginalized communities, the real value comes from quantifying those insights to drive informed decisions and advocacy.

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Alaksha Dhakite

PDM Scholar, Class of 2025

Alaksha is an engineer turned public policy enthusiast with nearly two years of work experience at Tata Consultancy Services. Dedicating three years to UPSC preparation proved pivotal, broadening her perspective and societal understanding while also developing communication, discipline, and patience. A former professional badminton athlete, she recognises how sports can foster inclusivity and empowerment. Understanding that public service extends beyond traditional government roles, she aims to leverage her diverse background to create impactful policies and bridge the gap between policy formation and implementation.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alaksha-dhakite-19822b164/