Nitin Pai

Director at The Takshashila Institution

Nitin Pai is a prominent figure in the field of public policy and international relations in India. He is the co-founder and director of the Takshashila Institution, an independent think tank and school of public policy based in Bangalore, India.1 2 3

Professional Background

Nitin Pai's career spans both the public and private sectors:

He spent over a decade working for the Singapore government as a policymaker in the technology sector.1 2
He played a role in the deregulation of Singapore's telecommunications industry and the deployment of broadband infrastructure.4
He also worked for SingTel, handling satellite and undersea cable sales for the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia.4

Academic Achievements

Pai has a strong academic background:

He received a gold medal from the National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.1 2
He was an undergraduate scholar at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, studying electrical engineering.1 4
He is an alumnus of National College, Bangalore.1 4

Current Roles and Responsibilities

At the Takshashila Institution, Nitin Pai:

Teaches international relations and public policy in the institution's graduate programs.1 2
Focuses his research on areas such as the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific, defence economics, and the politics of radically networked societies.2

Additionally, he:

Writes a fortnightly column called "The Intersection" in Mint (livemint.com).1
Serves as a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore.1 3
Is on the board of Jal Seva Charitable Foundation (WaterAid India).1 3

Publications and Teaching

Nitin Pai is an active writer and educator:

His columns appear in Business Standard and Rajasthan Patrika (Hindi).2
He has published chapters in various edited volumes, including an analysis of the Pakistani Military-Jihadi Complex.2
He has taught civilian and military leaders at India's College of Defence Management, Army War College, and Brunei's Institute of Strategic Studies.2

Nitin Pai's work at the Takshashila Institution reflects his commitment to championing India's national interest and constitutional values, with a personal belief in individual liberty, free markets, and reason as the best prescription for a just society and a sustainable planet.4