The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago’s India team (EPIC India) has appointed Kaushik Deb as its new Executive Director, in August 2024. Kaushik assumes this role on the cusp of a significant milestone, marking the institute’s ten-year anniversary. Throughout this period, EPIC India has spearheaded innovative research initiatives aimed at understanding the trade-offs in India’s urgent efforts to increase energy access and environmental quality in the country. Much of this work has been done in collaboration with national, state, and local governments to ensure that the learnings have practical impact.
Professor Michael Greenstone, the Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics and Director of EPIC, hailed Kaushik’s appointment, stating, “EPIC India has two goals. The first is to improve understanding about India’s efforts to balance the needs for inexpensive and reliable energy, clean air, and minimizing the probability of disruptive climate change impacts. The second is to ensure that the insights are presented in ways that are useful for decision-makers in government, industry, and civil society.” Greenstone continued, “Kaushik Deb is straight out of central casting as a star to lead EPIC India in the coming years. His exceptional set of expertise in research, outreach, and supporting global policymaking make him a perfect fit for achieving our goals. I’m thrilled that we will have the opportunity to work together on this urgent mission that takes as its starting point that the highest quality evidence can improve people’s lives.”
Kaushik Deb, an applied economist with over 25 years of experience, has a distinguished career as a strategic advisor to governments and corporates on policy, markets, equity, access, and technology developments. Prior to joining EPIC India, he directed the India Program at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy. His previous roles include serving as Program Director at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, where he managed research on global oil, natural gas, hydrogen, and petrochemicals markets. Additionally, he has led research on low carbon fuels and climate issues in Group Economics in bp, the Policy Group in IDFC and at TERI. He also established sustainability-focused management leadership programs at TERI University (now TERI SAS). He holds a D.Sc. from ETH Zürich and a master’s degree in economics from the Delhi School of Economics.
Expressing his confidence in Kaushik’s leadership, Dr. Balaji Srinivasan, Chair of the EPIC Asia Advisory Group said, “India has announced and worked towards achieving ambitious environmental targets, taking a leadership role for the Global South in the area of environmental protection. Through EPIC India, we have responded by taking a very intentional approach towards collaborating and engaging with Indian central and state governments in this effort. Hence Kaushik’s own extensive global experience in designing energy transition and environmental solutions, and his deep understanding of Indian energy policy, markets, and climate challenges make him ideally suited to lead EPIC-India. His expertise will undoubtedly enhance EPIC’s influence and impact within and without India.”
In his new role, Kaushik expressed enthusiasm about contributing to EPIC India’s mission. “I am excited about working with a team that has over the last decade has engaged with several state governments on evidence-based policy research for a just and efficient energy transition. EPIC India will continue to answer critical questions on energy transition issues facing policymakers in India. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to drive EPIC’s transformative efforts in India,” he said.
Over the last ten years, EPIC India has partnered with state government agencies in at least ten Indian states. The researchers have worked with government partners in rolling out pioneering projects including world’s first particulate pollution market in Gujarat, a first-of-its-kind star rating program to rate large industrial plants based on their emission in Maharashtra among others. Ensuring its dual goal of improving understanding and driving insights into action, EPIC India has identified unique, deep, and audience-specific insights from complex evidence-based research to deliver messages in simple and more application-based formats to communicate about the health effects of air pollution and continues to work with governments in Gujarat, Delhi, Odisha, Maharashtra among others. While the Institute’s research has centered extensively around environmental regulation, air pollution, climate change, energy efficiency, and electricity access, it is now expected to expand its portfolio rapidly under Kaushik’s leadership as EPIC India enters into its second decade.