My team

Dr. Ekta Baranwal, Research Manager

Dr. Ekta is expertise in spectral indices, UAV photogrammetry, and integrating geospatial applications to social, economic, environmental, and policy contexts. She holds a M.Tech in Remote Sensing from Banasthali Vidyapith and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Remote Sensing & GIS) from Jamia Millia Islamia. Her research interests include land-use and urban dynamics, blue carbon and coastal ecosystems, climate and disaster resilience, water resource assessment, heritage conservation, geospatial methods for sustainable development, technology-policy linkages, and geospatial industry/market research. She brings nearly a decade of experience across research, analysis, project coordination, and cross-disciplinary collaborations.

Dr. Ekta has published in leading journals such as Geocarto International and Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, and contributed many chapters with Springer, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, IGI Global, and Nova Science. Her conference work appears in IOP Science, IEEE Xplore, and Springer proceedings. She also led some global research initiatives and published in creative domain. Recognized as a “Top GIS Voice,” on LinkedIn, she is an active member of ISRS and ISPRS, and regularly contributes to national and international geospatial forums.

Dr. Srishti Gwal, Principal Project Scientist

Sristi holds a master's in Environment Science from the Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, and a doctoral degree in Environment Management (Forest Geoinformatics) from the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS, ISRO). Her interest lies in modelling forest ecosystem services using geospatial approaches. Her expertise encompasses forest biomass and carbon assessment, vegetation productivity modelling, the forest-water nexus and biodiversity assessment. She has previously worked as Project Scientist-I at the Wildlife Institute of India and as a Visiting researcher at Remote Sensing Laboratory, IESD, BHU. She has authored many peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and contributed to edited volumes on cutting-edge topics like AI/ML in forest management. Her technical acumen includes proficiency in advanced geospatial software such as ArcGIS, ERDAS Imagine, SNAP, Google Earth Engine, etc. along with programming expertise in R. Her work aims to bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice in environmental conservation and sustainability.

Dr. Aditya Sharma, Principal Project Scientist

Aditya holds a Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science and a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from the Central University of Rajasthan, India. He has worked in diverse research areas, including hydrometeorology, drought assessment, agrivoltaics, weather and climate extremes, regional climate change modelling, water-energy-food nexus, and various aspects of climate impact analysis. He has gained significant research experience through participation in numerous national and international collaborative projects funded by organizations such as the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), and the Department of Science and Technology - Science and Engineering Research Board (DST-SERB). Additionally, he has actively volunteered and contributed to the organisation of national and international conferences, workshops, and training programs. His academic contributions include 13 research papers published in esteemed international journals and three book chapters featured in edited volumes by prominent international publishers

Ms Vaishali Kanojia , Senior Project Scientist

Vaishali is a Senior Project Scientist supporting the researchwork related to IPBES Task Force on Scenarios and Models. She is currently working on biodiversity scenario development, Nature Futures Framework database development, and forest policy analysis. She previously led research and project management roles at Development Alternatives, contributing to national and international initiatives on ecotourism, climate communication, water resource management, sustainable agriculture, and large-scale restoration. Vaishali has authored several policy and research publications, including India's Pond Rejuvenation Programme, the Integrated Water Resources Management – Citizen Science Manual, and articles on land degradation, community radio, and sustainable farming. She also brings extensive experience from the Think20 (T20) process, contributing to policy papers such as Integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems into Global Policy Frameworks, Scaling Adaptation Finance through Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships and Decentralised Action Plans, and Addressing Food Insecurity in Conflict-Affected Regions. She has represented India in global forums, including UNESCO's Greening Education Partnership, and regularly conducts capacity-building and stakeholder engagement activities. With strong experience in research communication, climate and sustainability policy, and community engagement, Vaishali works to bridge science, policy, and societal action.

Ms Rupal Jain, Doctoral Student

Rupal holds a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development Practice from TERI School of Advanced Studies and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. under the supervision of Dr. Dasgupta. With prior experience as a public health researcher at the Indian Council of Medical Research, Rupal's Ph.D. focuses on unraveling health inequalities through the lens of spatial and environmental justice. Her research aims to contribute meaningful insights to the intersection of public health, sustainable development, and environmental equity.

Mr Rahul, Doctoral Student

Rahul, currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the School of Public Policy, IIT Delhi, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchchirappalli, and a Master’s in Urban Planning from the School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi. With over 11 years of experience in Urban Planning, he currently serves as the Deputy Director (Planning) at Delhi Development Authority, Delhi. Under the guidance of Sri Rajarshi Dasgupta, his Ph.D. focuses on providing a thorough understanding of the historical context, current impact, and potential improvements in Urban Land Policies in Delhi. He emphasizes using advanced tools such as GIS, Remote Sensing, and STI-based models to enhance the future effectiveness and sustainability of these policies.

Ms Pragati Yadav, Doctoral Student

Pragati is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the School of Public Policy, IIT Delhi. She is enrolled in a Joint PhD Program with IIT Delhi and the University of Queensland, Australia. She holds a Bachelor’s degree majoring in Botany from the Hansraj College, University of Delhi, and a Master’s in Environmental Science from the Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi. Pragati’s Ph.D. work focuses on exploring the interplay of Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Human Health and evidence-led decision-making in health adaptation planning.

Ms Soumya Mallick, Doctoral Student

Soumya, currently pursuing her PhD. at the School of Public Policy, IIT Delhi, completed her Bachelor's degree from the Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi and also holds a Master's degree in Environmental Studies from the Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi. She is currently enrolled in a Joint PhD program with IIT Delhi and the University of Queensland, Australia. Her research under Dr. Rajarshi Dasgupta's guidance aims to explore the nexus of invasive alien species and human health through citizen science approaches.

Ms Jahnavi, Doctoral Student.

Jahnavi is a PhD scholar under the supervision of Dr Rajarshi Dasgupta. Her doctoral research is situated in the field of disaster studies and examines inter-state river governance, flooding, and community impacts in the context of a changing climate. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Geography from Miranda House and a Master of Arts in Geography from the Department of Geography, University of Delhi. She has worked on two research projects with the Centre for Women’s Development Studies (CWDS), both based in the Yamuna floodplain and involving extensive field-based research. She has also interned with the Centre for Environmental Studies and Disaster Management (CESDM), Miranda House, for a group project on urban flooding in context of Delhi. Her research interests include disaster vulnerability, river sociology, regional development and public policy, and social and everyday geographies.

Mr Harsh Singhal , Junior Research Fellow

Harsh is currently associated as a JRF with the School of Public Policy, IIT Delhi, on the Project "Modelling Ecological and microclimatic impacts of large-scale Solar Park in India" Under the guidance of Dr Rajarshi Dasgupta. He is an interdisciplinary researcher and conservation practitioner based in Rajasthan, India. He holds a Master’s degree in Conservation Practice (Environmental Studies) from the University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology (TDU), in collaboration with the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru, India. Harsh has actively worked across diverse research and conservation domains, including agroforestry, climate change adaptation, avian biodiversity, and community-based conservation.

As an INSPIRE Fellow under the Department of Science and Technology, Harsh has conducted multiple field-based studies and published peer-reviewed articles, Popular articles, and field notes. He brings strong interdisciplinary skills in ecological monitoring, qualitative research, and policy analysis

Ms Rajni, Master’s Student

Rajni holds a Bachelor’s (Honours) degree in Public Administration from Panjab University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Policy at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi under the supervision of Dr. Rajarshi Dasgupta. Her research explores the governance and conservation of wetlands in Delhi, with a particular focus on ecological restoration, policy frameworks, and community participation.

Mr. Anandhu, Master’s Student

"Anandhu is a second-year Master's student in Public Policy at IIT Delhi. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Zoology from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, and a Master's in Development Studies from IIT Guwahati, where he focused on environmental sociology. He has fieldwork experience in Assam and Kerala. He is currently working under the guidance of Prof. Dasgupta on human–wildlife Conflicts."

Mr. Manash Pratim Deka

Mr. Manash Pratim Deka is a Project Assistant (Admin) at the School of Public Policy, IIT Delhi. He is responsible for streamlining project workflows, managing complex billing cycles, and overseeing administrative requests via the IRIS platform, alongside handling inter-departmental coordination. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Dispur College, Gauhati University. Outside of his administrative work, Manash holds a Shilpa Visharad in Fine Arts from the Sarbabharatiya Sangeet-O-Sanskriti Parishad. In his free time, he is an active freelance photo editor and a hobbyist photographer.

Past Students and Laboratory Members

Dr. Pankaj Singha, Principal Project Scientist (2023-25)

Pankaj holds a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Gour Banga. His current work focuses on Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Enrichment in the Tamil Nadu coastal region. In particular, he is working in the Pichavaram and Muthupet mangrove regions to develop a regional strategy for Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR). He is an expert in remote sensing and geographical information systems (GIS), with a profound passion for harnessing cutting-edge technology to address complex spatial challenges. He has published 17 research papers in esteemed international journals.

Ms Anuska Choudhary, MPP Student (2025 batch)

Anushka completed her Master’s degree in Public Policy from the School of Public Policy, IIT Delhi. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. She is currently working on land use change and shrinking green spaces in metro cities and their future scenarios, under the guidance of Dr Dasgupta.

Thesis tile: Envisioning Nature Positive Cities through Space and Time: The Case of Delhi NCR

Mr. Pavanesh Kumar Dwivedi, MPP Student (2025 batch)

Pavanesh completed his MPP degree School of Public Policy, IIT Delhi. He holds a B.Tech degree in Production & Industrial Engineering from NIT Jamshedpur. With over three years of experience in the automobile industry, he has further honed his skills through internships at NITI Aayog, analyzing state-level development investments; the International Solar Alliance, advancing solar investments in the Global South; and Arghyam, assessing treated greywater reuse in agriculture through fieldwork in Haryana and Punjab. He wrote his thesis titled "Understanding the Influence of Green Infrastructure on Active Mobility Pattern and Choices: A Cross-sectional study from Delhi " under Dr. Dasgupta's mentorship.

Mr Ishan Kukreti, MPP Student (2024 batch)

Ishan is a journalist and completed his Master’s thesis in 2023-24. His master’s research thesis, under the supervision of Dr Dasgupta, focused on the effectiveness of community forest governance on environmental and socio-economic indicators in Garchiroli, Maharashtra.

Ms Diksha Chauhan, MPP (2024 batch)

Diksha graduated in 2024 and worked under the guidance of Dr. Dasgupta. She worked towards developing an ESG framework for smart and sustainable cities.

Mr Satvik Jain, MPP Student (2024 batch)

Satvik graduated in 2024. In his Master's dissertation, he explsored the ‘Impact of Urbanization on Agricultural Livelihoods through a case of Noida, India’ under Professor Dasgupta's guidance.

Prospective doctoral students: Pls write to rajarshidg1@iitd.ac.in

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