The Policy Pivot: Inside India?s Strategic Shift

The Policy Pivot marks eighteen years of the Public Affairs Forum of India (PAFI), an organization that has played a defining role in shaping the discourse around public policy in the country.To honour this journey, the book brings together a compelling collection of essays from some of India’s most respected and influential voices across business, government, academia and civil society.

Contributors to this volume examine the shifting dynamics of India’s policy ecosystem – where governance is becoming more participatory, corporate responsibility more strategic and public affairs more central to sustainable growth and democratic accountability. With diverse perspectives and deep insights, they highlight the increasing importance of collaboration, transparency and ethical engagement in navigating today’s complex socio-political landscape.

This volume is not merely a celebration of the past; it is a forward-looking call to action. It urges public affairs professionals, policymakers and changemakers to step up – to engage with greater purpose, to embrace complexity with courage and clarity and to contribute meaningfully to the making of a more inclusive, equitable and forward-thinking India.

Ajay Khanna is co-founder of PAFI, strategic adviser and ombudsperson of Jubilant Bhartia Group, senior adviser with The Convergence Foundation, Urban Land Institute (India), Internet and Mobile Association of India, Catalyst 2030 and Teamwork Arts; and member of the advisory board of SaveLIFE, Pahlé India foundation and National Association of Innovators and Social Entrepreneurs. A member of the WEF Global Alliance for social entrepreneurship, Ajay has been associated with the World Economic Forum and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship for over three decades.

Rahul Sharma is a co-founder and past president of PAFI. He had a long career in international and Indian media before switching to public affairs, advising large global corporations and other entities on policy issues and strategic business communications. Rahul, currently the managing director of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), earlier co-edited A New Cold War: Henry Kissinger and the Rise of China (2021).