India Sustainable Growth Hub

About

The Centre for Research on the Economics of Climate, Food, Energy and Environment (CECFEE) at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Delhi, and the International Growth Centre (IGC) at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) co-established the India Sustainable Growth Hub (ISGH) in 2024. The collaboration was made possible with funding from the Bezos Earth Fund.

The ISGH gathers the latest economic research and analysis from leading academics and policymakers in India and around the globe to inform decision-making on sustainable growth in India. 

ISGH research focuses on policies for sustainable growth, specifically, new economic thinking on how to build a prosperous low-carbon economy in India. 

At its core, ISGH seeks to strengthen a domestic community of practice on low-carbon, inclusive development and to elevate the role of rigorous, policy-relevant research in shaping India’s climate and economic future.

To ensure strong Indian ownership, ISGH is based at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Delhi—India’s premier institution for economic research.

Background

ISI has deep-rooted connections with government, the private sector, and civil society. The Hub’s leadership includes Professor Chetan Ghate and Professor E Somanathan, both senior ISI faculty members with deep expertise and longstanding engagement with India’s policymaking community. Professor Ghate was recently appointed to the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India. Dr Anant Sudarshan, a leading economist on energy, environment, and development, supports ISGH in his capacity as Lead Academic.

The Hub builds on a long-standing partnership between ISI and IGC, which dates back to 2008. Through this collaboration, ISGH will combine ISI’s domestic expertise and networks with IGC’s global research and policy ecosystem, creating a unique platform that bridges India’s development challenges with global knowledge and innovation.

ISGH is designed to provide high-quality and responsive research, and policy expertise to support India’s transition to sustainable growth. Initial consultations with several arms of the central government have already underscored the strong demand for this type of analytical support and evidence across ISGH’s core focus areas.

The Hub’s research agenda is anchored in productivity and innovation, and in the microeconomic transformations that drive sustainable growth. 

These include enhancing firm capabilities, improving state effectiveness, developing sound urbanisation strategies, and transitioning towards sustainable energy practices—all while safeguarding India’s natural environment. These microeconomic shifts must be underpinned by a macroeconomic framework that is resilient to climate shocks and supportive of long-term growth.

By combining rigorous research, close policy engagement, and global partnerships, ISGH aims to become a leading knowledge hub for shaping India’s path to sustainable prosperity and offering lessons for the wider developing world.