Asian Development Research Institute

Patna, September 3. “Officers must be patient listeners, because it is only by listening carefully to the pressing issues in management practices to deliver public services that the right solutions can be identified,” said Shri Arvind Kumar Chaudhary, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat Department, Government of Bihar, and Director General, BIPARD, addressing departmental teams at the valedictory session of a two-day workshop on Government Analytics that concluded here today.

The workshop titled Government Analytics and Reforms, and organised by the Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI), brought together officials from several state government departments to examine how administrative and survey data already being collected by the government can be repurposed to improve the way departments function and deliver services to citizens.

Earlier in the day, Member-Secretary of ADRI, Dr. Ashmita Gupta, recapped the highlights of the first day's proceedings, with particular emphasis on the concept of the production function. Citing the Government of Bihar's own record, she commended the state for its achievements in the electrification and road construction sectors, noting that the gains made in these areas were clearly documented in terms of both output and outcomes. This was followed by a quiz in which departmental teams tested their understanding of various elements of the production function — input, management practices, frontline behaviour, output and outcome. Dr Niraj Prakash, Programme Director, ADRI, reviewed the quiz attempted by the participants and announced the winners, who were felicitated at the end of the session.

This was followed by a lecture on the Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) approach by Dr. Martin Haus, co-author of the ADRI-LSE study and one of the workshop's instructors, who asserted the importance of identifying problems and breaking them down into their constituent parts to arrive at the root cause to be addressed. He further outlined the approach to planning an intervention — identifying the right authority, examining its ability, and ensuring acceptance for the proposed course of action.

Drawing on this framework, departmental teams then worked through the rest of the day on identifying specific problems confronting their own departments. Each departmental team subsequently presented its problem statement and proposed the way forward before the Additional Chief Secretary.

Among the issues presented, the Finance Department flagged the difficulty faced by its field officers in preparing utilisation certificates for funds released under various government schemes, attributing the delays to inadequate training and a fear of punitive action in the event of adverse outcomes. Officials from the Education Department highlighted the issue of lack of enrolment in Bihar Board of Open Schooling and Examination (BBOSE) for want of awareness about the scheme. Responding to the presentations, Shri Chaudhary reiterated that a patient, empathetic hearing of such field-level concerns was central to resolving them within a short span of time.

Two-Day Workshop on Government Analytics and Reforms 2-3 Sep 2026
https://www.adriindia.org/events/two-day-workshop-on-government-analytics-and-reforms
Patna, 2nd September 2026. Senior officials of the Government of Bihar joined departmental teams this evening at Hotel Chanakya, Patna, for the inaugural session of a two-day workshop on 'Government Analytics and Reforms', organised by the Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI). After the inauguration and lighting of the lamp, a panel discussion of public officials featured Ms Harjot Kaur Bamhrah, IAS, Chairman-cum-Member, Board of Revenue, Bihar, and Shri Kumar Ravi, IAS, Secretary, Health Department, Government of Bihar. Shree Sparsh Gupta, IAS, AED, State Health Society, Bihar also participated in the event. Drawing on their long experience of district and departmental administration, the panellists responded to the teams' initial thinking and guided them on the problems most worth taking up in their ninety-day plans. The teams then presented their thinking before dinner.

The evening session capped the first day of the workshop, which brought together mid-level officers from seven departments — Finance, Health, Education, Social Welfare, Rural Development, Planning and Development, and Labour Resources — attending as departmental teams at ADRI. Each team is expected to leave the workshop with a concrete ninety-day action plan for its own department.

The workshop departed from the usual training format. Instead of long lectures on good practice elsewhere, each session opened with a short talk and then moved to hands-on work at the table, where officers examined their own department as a system — using data it already generates and the views of its own staff. Every team came with one reform its department attempted in the last five years, which it used as a live case through the day.

The day's sessions at ADRI covered three themes: seeing the department as a measurable system, drawing on the World Bank's Government Analytics Handbook; the findings of the ADRI–LSE study of public management in Bihar, with hands-on learning on how staff surveys are designed; and why reforms stick — and why they don't — based on evidence from over one hundred reforms across six countries. Dr Deepak Kumar and Dr Arpan Sharma, Assistant Professors at ADRI, presented various parts of the ADRI–LSE survey, walking the departmental teams through its findings. Ms Bandana Preyashi, IAS, Joint Secretary, Department of Fertilizers, Government of India, joined the Reform as Process session online, sharing her experience of leading and implementing reform within government with the departmental teams.

The workshop is grounded in a first-of-its-kind study of public management in Bihar, carried out jointly by ADRI and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) during 2024–25. The study surveyed 1,767 frontline and supervisory staff in elementary education, health sub-centres, anganwadis and MGNREGS across all 38 districts, with visits to nearly 3,000 facilities. It found a committed workforce with high levels of job satisfaction, alongside significant challenges of trust, duplication of work and gaps in basic infrastructure.

“What makes this workshop unusual is that Bihar now has hard evidence about its own administrative machinery, gathered from its own staff,” said Dr Martin Haus, co-author of the ADRI–LSE study and one of the workshop's instructors. “The survey shows a workforce that is committed and proud of its work. The question the officers worked on today is how to build on that commitment — by measuring how their offices actually run, and making improvement a regular habit rather than a one-time order.”

“For three decades ADRI has studied how Bihar's economy and government work; this workshop takes the next step by bringing that research directly back to the officers who run the State's programmes on the ground,” said Dr Ashmita Gupta, Associate Professor and Member Secretary, ADRI, and co-author of the study. “The measure of success is not what participants hear over these two days, but what each department begins doing differently in the ninety days that follow. Each of the seven teams will write its own plan, in its own words, for its own office.”

“Bihar has set ambitious goals for growth, service delivery and welfare, and whether those goals are met depends a great deal on how well government offices are run every day,” said Niraj Prakash, Programme Director, ADRI. “This workshop gives mid-level officers — the people who translate policy into action — practical tools for planning work, managing staff, using data and solving problems. We look forward to working with the departments as they take their ninety-day plans forward.”

The guidance received from the panel will shape the ninety-day action plans that the teams will develop and present on the second and final day of the workshop, tomorrow, 3 September, at ADRI.

The curriculum draws on four leading sources in the field: the World Bank's Government Analytics Handbook (2023); the ADRI–LSE study of public management in Bihar (2024–25); Reform as Process: Implementing Change in Public Bureaucracies (Columbia University Press, 2026); and the Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) approach developed at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Patna. August 26. A presentation was organized as a part of the Mission LiFE movement by the EIACP Centre at the Asian Development Research Center (ADRI). EIACP is the climate crisis-fighting unit of ADRI and is under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change.

In the presentation, Shree Gulshan Patel, IT & GIS Officer of EIACP strongly recommended that citizens should change their behavior if Patna’s gargantuan volumes of harmful solid wastes are to be reduced and made manageable. He said that all of us should curtail or stop the use of plastics for takeaways from the city’s restaurants. Also, he urged one and all to not use plastic plates. He cited the fact that Patna is generating around 1,700 to 1,900 tonnes of solid wastes every day. However, only 25 percent of this is being treated and a whopping 85 % of the total or some 1,200 tonnes are being dumped daily on to ever-shrinking landfill sites. He suggested that the government should incentivize segregation of wastes right at the source, whether it is every household, shop, institution, etc. in the city. Schemes should be devised for rag pickers and Kabadiwalas. He emphatically stated that the long-term solution for Patna’s intractable waste problem is to adopt the Waste to Wealth recycling model. Such a step will enable its economy to transit to a state which will be characterized by Resources and Income generation from Wastes, thereby settling this pressing and continually-harmful issue.

Apart from Mr. Patel’s paper presentation, Senior Agronomist Shree Revati Raman was featured in the concluding session of the first batch of EIACP-ADRI’s 10-day Capacity Building Programme on Hydroponics in Flowers and Medicinal Plants. Shree Raman elaborated on the potential of carrying out a business in the field of Hydroponics and on various government schemes related to Hydroponics. Certificates were distributed to the students, who shared their thoughts on what they will do in future with what they had learnt in the Hydroponics course.

Research Scholar of Geography Shree Nishant Ranjan and Environment Analyst Shree Amit Kumar Pandey also attended the program. EIACP Coordinator Dr. Sunil Kumar Gupta and EIACP’s Shree Mausam Bahar were also present on the occasion.

The second batch of this Hydroponics course will go on for 10 days and will start on August 31.

Patna, 17 August 2026: The Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building and Livelihood Programme (EIACP), PC-RP, CSEC-ADRI, Patna, under the aegis of Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India, today organised a 10-day Capacity Building Programme on Hydroponics in Flower and Medicinal Plants, aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture, resource-efficient farming and green livelihood opportunities. CSEC-ADRI is the environment unit at the Asian Development Research Institute.
Dr Ashutosh Upadhyaya, Head, Division of Land and Water Management, ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, graced the inaugural session as Chief Guest. He highlighted the importance of awareness and adoption of new agricultural technologies, noting that while hydroponics requires higher initial investment and energy, it can also offer higher production and efficient resource utilisation.
Md Javed Alam, a hydroponics expert with over 30 years of industry experience, will lead the training. Along with Dr Sandeep Kumar, he highlighted practical applications ranging from household cultivation to nursery development and sustainable livelihood generation.
Dr Sunil Kumar Gupta, EIACP Programme Coordinator, ADRI, underlined the environmental relevance of plant-based indoor cultivation, including its potential contribution to reducing indoor air pollution. Dr Ashmita Gupta, Member Secretary, ADRI, and faculty members were also present at the inaugural programme.
The first batch is being conducted from 17–26 August 2026, with Batch 2 scheduled for 31 August–10 September 2026. The programme is free of cost, with 30 participants in each batch. The training will cover soilless farming, hydroponic systems, cultivation of flower and medicinal plants, nutrient and water management, pH and EC monitoring, nursery raising, crop monitoring, harvesting, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
The programme is open to farmers, rural youth, women entrepreneurs, SHGs, nursery owners, agriculture start-ups, NGOs, community organisations, and agriculture and horticulture students. Interested participants may register for Batch 2 with CSEC-ADRI, Patna, subject to availability of seats.

https://www.adriindia.org/events/capacity-building-program-on-hydroponics-in-flower-and-medicinal-plants

Patna. July 28. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change-supported EIACP at the Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI) organized a program today to observe World Nature Conservation Day along with the ongoing Van Mahotsav. It did so in collaboration with the Upendra Maharathi Research Institute (Patna).

EIACP Coordinator Dr. Sunil Kumar Gupta pointed out the various initiatives being taken by the Ministry under the Mission LiFE movement to conserve Nature. These included the campaigns called Ek Ped Maa ke Naam (Plant 4 Mother) and Catch the Rain. The ongoing Van Mahotsav was yet another government conservation endeavor and to make it succeed, all the 120 artisans, who were mostly women, participating in the event planted 50 saplings on the campus of the Institute. Dr. Gupta then sketched out a grim picture of how Bihar’s ambient temperature has changed drastically in the past 30 years ago. As evidence of this change in Bihar’s climate, he stated that the current month of July has been unduly warm when it should have been raining. Other regions are witnessing extreme climatic events of heavy rains even as the Rain Gods have failed Bihar. This was not the case 30 years back. He also advised everyone to plant trees on a war footing so as to arrest the dangerous trend of damage being caused to the environment by single-use plastics as well as micro-plastics. Even a small step taken by citizens in this direction can translate into a beneficial impact on a very large scale, he declared.

Industry Extension Officer (IEO) of Maharathi Institute Ms. Pummy Kumari also addressed the gathering. Also present on the occasion were the Institute’s IEO Mr. Jitendra Ram and the Museum In-Charge Mr. Omkar Maurya. EIACP-ADRI’s GIS & IT Officer Mr. Gulshan Patel and Information Officer Mr. Mausam Bahar also actively participated and managed the event.

Climate Actions: Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For our Future.
https://www.adriindia.org/events/climate-actions-inspired-by-nature.-for-climate.-for-our-future.

Patna. June 6. The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change-supported EIACP-ADRI continued to celebrate World Environment Day by organizing a Webinar today jointly with EIACP-IIT-ISM, Dhanbad. The theme of this event was Climate Actions: Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For our Future.
The Webinar featured Shree Dileep Yadav (IFS) DFO, Khunti (Ranchi) talking about the rules of waste management. He pointed out that both aquatic life and forest wildlife are being affected badly by the liquid wastes that are being discharged from households and ultimately find their way into the eco-system. The next speaker was Dr. Alok Ranjan, Director-Operations at Bihar Swasthya Suraksha Samiti (BSSS) of the Government of Bihar. While talking about sustainable bio-waste management practices, he stressed on the fact that segregation of wastes at the source of its generation is a must.
The event was diligently managed by Dr. Sunil Kumar Gupta, EIACP Coordinator and Dr. Suraj Shankar, Team Lead (AB-PMJAY-ADRI). EIACP’s Shree Sanjeev Kumar (Data Operator) and Shree Gulshan Patel (IT and GIS Officer) also actively participated in the programme. Around 70 academicians, policy makers, researchers, and environmentalists and students from the different institutions actively attended this virtual event.

World Environment Day 2026
https://www.adriindia.org/events/world-environment-day-2026
Patna. June 5. On the occasion of World Environment Day, EIACP-ADRI, which is supported by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, organized a virtual workshop today in collaboration with the Bihar State Pollution Control Board, Patna. The theme of the workshop was “Climate Action, Waste Reduction and Sustainable Development.” EIACP-ADRI is the climate change unit of the Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI). The programme commenced with a Welcome Address by Dr. Ashmita Gupta, Member Secretary of ADRI.

The first speaker was Dr. Anshuman Tiwari of Ashoka University as well as the University of Chicago. He presented the findings of his research on “Industrial Water Pollution and Agricultural Production in India.” Discussing the adverse effects of industrial pollution on the water quality of the Ganga River, he stated that improvements in water quality have been observed from Buxar to Kahalgaon, while some concerns still persist in the Hajipur region. He further noted that poor river water quality has had a negative impact on agricultural production. His study used water pollution indicators such as BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) and COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand).

The second speaker was Mr. Shubhro Bhattacharya, a PhD researcher at the University of California, San Diego. He delivered a lecture on “Intergenerational Effects of Environmental Attitudes and Behaviours.” In his presentation, he explained that when children are made aware of environmental conservation in schools, they also encourage their parents to become more environmentally conscious and responsible.

In the post-lunch session, Mr. Hamza Syed of the London School of Economics spoke on the role of electricity supply in rural India, its impact on socio-economic inequalities, and the importance of access to energy for rural development. He emphasized on the fact that reliable and quality electricity supply not only promotes economic activities but also contributes significantly to improvements in education, healthcare, and overall living standards.
This was followed by the Keynote Address, which was delivered by Prof. Stefania Lovo of the University of Reading, United Kingdom. The topic of her lecture was “Climate Change, Environmental Sustainability and Development.” She analyzed the impacts of climate change on poverty, energy transition, natural resource extraction, and related institutional arrangements. She stressed on the need for clean energy, environmental governance, sustainable mining, and climate-resilient development policies. She also shared her views on the potential of critical minerals in Bihar and the associated environmental and social dimensions.

The programme witnessed active participation from the Bihar State Pollution Control Board and featured Dr. Naveen Kumar (Senior Scientist), Mr. S. N. Jaiswal (Scientific Advisor), and Mr. Pappu Kumar (NCAP Consultant). Representatives from ADRI included Dr. Sunil Kumar Gupta, Dr. Deepak Kumar, Dr. Arpan, Mr. Gulshan Patel, and Mr. Sanjeev Kumar. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks and closing remarks.

Talk on the Revival of the Bhojpuri Film Industry at ADRI
Patna. June 4. Creation of an infrastructure employing the innovative Jugaad technology of CDs and video cameras and players up to the 2000s in Bihar’s villages by local businessmen helped the growth of Bhojpuri films. These businessmen would travel to New Delhi, learn the tricks of the trade and bring it back to the villages. Noted film researcher and movie-maker Shree Amrit Raj expressed this view in a talk titled “Media Technologies, Cinema Habits and the Revival of the Bhojpuri Film Industry”. This talk on the vicissitudes of this film industry was organized by the Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI) today.

Tracing the inception of the Bhojpuri film industry from 1961 when the first Bhojpuri film “Ganga Maiya Tore Piyari Chadhaibo” was released, he dwelt on how the interaction between Nepalis and Biharis during the British Raj led to the making of Bhojpuri films subsequently. However, Bhojpuri films witnessed a decline in the 1980s as these films were primarily family dramas which did not appeal to the people.

Bollywood movies like “Maine Pyar Kiya” and “Aashiqui” were responsible for the resurgence of the Bhojpuri film industry in the 1990s. They paved the way for the blockbuster Bhojpuri movie “Sasura Bada Paise waalaa.”

Of late, these films have been imitating Bollywood movies by following the same kind of motifs. The villagers of Bihar identify with such themes and watch them regularly. Bhojpuri films have also been taking inspiration from South Indian films recently and the latter are being dubbed in Bhojpuri to make them a resounding success. In fact, the trailer of a blockbuster South Indian film was released in Patna for the first time. Shree Raj pointed out that very few Bhojpuri movies are being released nowadays because of the dominance of multiplexes in malls.

Dr. Ashmita Gupta, Member-Secretary, ADRI welcomed all the guests.

On the occasion of World Environment Day 2026, the ADRI–EIACP Programme Centre, in collaboration with the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), Patna, is organizing a workshop on “Climate Action, Waste Reduction and Sustainable Development.”

Date: Friday, 5 June 2026
Time: 10:00 AM onwards
Venue: Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), Patna