Satyajit Singh

Satyajit Singh is a Professor in the Department of Political Science and Department of Global Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He previously held academic positions at the University of Delhi, Ambedkar University Delhi, and Ryukoku University, Kyoto. His research focuses on South Asia, Indian Politics, Public Policy, Development Studies, Environmental Politics, and Local Governance. He has advised international organizations including the World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, and governments across Asia.

Education: Ph.D., University of Delhi (1994). Earlier roles include Founding Dean at School of Development Studies and School of Human Ecology (Ambedkar University Delhi), India Chair at Ryukoku University, and Visiting Fellowships at institutions like the Institute of Development Studies (Sussex). He has also served as a Leverhulme Fellow for Environment and Development.

Research Interests: Governance structures, public policy reforms, decentralization dynamics, environmental governance, and political economy of large infrastructure projects. He is a founder of the India Public Policy Network and currently convenes its activities.

Key contributions include analyzing India's water policies, large dam impacts, and local governance mechanisms. His work bridges academic research with policy practice, emphasizing institutional design challenges and political realities in development contexts.

Advisory Work: Extensive experience with multilateral agencies and governments on projects related to rural service delivery, environmental management, and institutional reforms. Current research includes exploring the political dimensions of vernacular literature and local natural resource management frameworks.

Publications: Over two decades of scholarship includes monographs like Taming the Waters (1997), edited volumes on decentralization and environmental governance, and articles in Asian Survey, Policy & Society, and Economic and Political Weekly.