All India Policy Writing Competition

Board FTIPublic Announcement14 Comments on All India Policy Writing Competition

Launch date: 15 November 2012
Last date for submission of policies: 28 February 2013

The Freedom Team of India is pleased to announce an All India Policy Writing Competition with Rs.5 lakhs in prize money. The first prize for the best policy is Rs.1 lakh, with total prize money of Rs.5 lakhs.

Individuals or teams can participate. Only Indian citizens (20 years or older) are eligible for prizes. There is no limit on prizes a person can win.

Please download the competition documents. Please also register on the FTI Competition Google Group. You can ask questions on FTI’s Public Forum.

1) Download competition documents

Competition Rules (PDF)
Policy Template (Word)
Colour poster (A4) for notice boards (PDF)
Black and White Poster (A4) for notice boards (PDF)

2) Register to get regular updates

Please join the FTI Policy Competition Google Group to register. FTI will use this group to send updates. Updates are also available here in chronological order.

3) Ask FTI for help
Please ask questions about the competition on FTI’s Public Forum. FTI may selectively respond on the Google group.

Who has contributed to the prize money?
Only Indian citizens are permitted (under the Indian law) to contribute to FTI. Click here for the list of prize money donors. If you wish to contribute funds for FTI activities, details are provided here. You can also support FTI in many other ways.

If you are not an Indian citizen but wish to assist FTI, you can consider the options listed here.

PRESS RELEASE, 15 NOVEMBER 2012

Please click here for FTI’s press release.

PRESS RELEASE, 17 NOVEMBER 2012 (for UK Press)

Please click here for FTI’s 17 November press release.

14 thoughts on “All India Policy Writing Competition”

  2. sir/madam,
    I am a first year undergraduate student at IIT Bombay and i would like to participate in the contest but i don't meet the age criteria specified under the norms , so would you help me out in the participation even if i am not considered for any type of pries and  services. please reply as soon as possible.
    Regards-
    Ashish Jindal

  5. Dear Ashish,
     
    We are unable to do much with the age limit, as that was set after much discussion – we felt that it would be appropriate to have an age limit to ensure that we get a certain level of serious papers for the competition.
     
    However, if you were to team up with your seniors or your professors, then your team would be considered for the competition. However, the team leader has to meet the age limit, and be an active participant in the competition.
     
    Thanks
     
    Supratim

  6. Dear Preeti,

    There is no limit on the team size – however, each team that contests would be counted as a single entity only, and if your team wins any prize money, then it will be awarded to the team as a whole. The team would need to designate a recipient bank account for transmission of the prize money.

    Please let me know if you have any other questions.

    Thanks,
    Supratim

  7. I want to write on " Insurance Policy". I would like to have suggestion on what could be guidelines on writting and howz it should be?

  8. Dear Vipin,

    the flow-chart given below might be of use.

    1. Identify what is the objective of your proposed policy.
    2. Identify the stake holders in the policy or better known as policy-actors.
    3. identify the relevant regulatory bodies in India with respect to the policy area. eg: IRDA for Insurance sector
    4. Identify the relevant committees and reports on the relevant sector. eg: Malhotra Committee report that led to creation of IRDA.
    5. Identify the existing laws and acts in the sector. While doing so, distinguish between those that applies to domestic stake holders and foreign stakeholders.
    6. Identify if your solution is aimed at removing existing bottlenecks or is along a new line of thought.
    7. Identify global regulatory bodies/frameworks for the concerned sector. you could also see if they have made policy suggestions that are yet to be applied in India.
    8. List out your claims clearly and back them up with data. Rely less on newspaper articles and more on original data analysis. Use the existing reports/recommendations to the fullest.
    9. Do not compromise your intellectual integrity. If you are borrowing even the smallest of facts from someone else’s work, give them the credit.
    10. Finally you could check the judgments of Supreme Court of India relevant to your area of policy interest.
    11. If the recommendations are aimed at eliminating any temporary problems, do not forget to add motivation and mechanism for incorporating a sunset clause in the final legislation.

    A policy paper:
    -> defines the status quo
    -> problems with existing policy
    -> rationale for new/modified policy
    -> recommendations backed by data
    -> role of policy actors in the new/modified policy
    -> clearly say if this is aimed to be a temporary solution or permanent standard.

    I hope the above helps in you some way. Will be glad to clarify further if required.

    note: read Public Policymaking in India by R.V.Vaidyanatha Ayyar

  14. FTI will decide on the basis of quality, and not quantity – so, depth and clarity of analysis would be appreciated for any policy topic that has been chosen.

    Having said that, if you feel that you can do justice to more than two topics, then you may take up more topics. Please note that the prizes will be awarded based on the best policy document for each topic, and not based on the “total contribution” by each contestant.

    Best Regards,

    Supratim

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