Swastik Das Email & Phone Number

New Delhi, Delhi, India

New Delhi, Delhi, India

Leading the AI and data-driven policy vertical; engaging, and working with government bodies, non-profit organizations, and corporate entities to further the concept of evidence-based policy making through the usage of datasets, tools and methods from data science, machine learning and artificial intelligence, which are not traditionally used in public policy research and analysis.Conducted training sessions with corporate clients and Education Technology platforms in analytics, data-driven decision making, machine learning, deep learning, and artificial intelligence. Working on an application which uses natural language processing on millions of unique job listings, and on the syllabi of course providers, to create a forward-looking user interface that demonstrates the mismatch between supply and demand of skills but also the pockets of inefficiencies where the shortfall is not being catered to by the training/e-learning ecosystem.Designing, conducting, and reporting on results from academic research projects that focus on 1) new tools, methods, or algorithms, 2) new scientific domains or application areas for AI and ML, and/or 3) new data sets or sources, which inter alia includes projects on examining the rationality and biases in macroeconomic forecasts released by the national central bank, as well as examining socioeconomic underpinnings which can explain the instances of domestic terror incidents across states in India.Conducted predictive and classification modelling, using AI and ML algorithms, at a pan-India level for a public limited company set up by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India in the public-private-partnership model, to promote skill development by categorizing and providing policy insights for their vocational training institutions.

New Delhi, Delhi, India

While reporting directly to the UNDP Resident Representative in India, and under the technical oversight of the UNDP Asia Pacific Team Leader – Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development, supported the work of the County Office with quality economic analysis and concrete policy recommendations to facilitate the integration of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into national development systems.Developed UNDP’s capabilities data science and machine-learning and applied them to create new and rigorous data-driven insights.Lead the preparation of a country-wide report on the human impact of climate change in India, focussing on the effects of climate change on human development, food and agriculture systems, infectious diseases, migration, and inequality, merging traditional statistical and economic analysis methods with machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms.Collaborated with the other Development Economists in the Asia Pacific region, and the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub to inform UNDP’s regional and global analysis such as for the Human Development Report.

New Delhi Area, India

Lead project management, strategic planning, and design for the creation of a new data intelligence platform to monitor progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in India, in coordination with the offices of the Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog, Government of India’s policy think-tank.Advocated the role of artificial intelligence, technology and data innovations in monitoring SDGs with the senior leadership of the national Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation; organized conferences on leveraging machine learning, and data innovations in official statistics; and set up the ‘Data for Development’ coordination committee with the mandate of enhancing statistical and data analytics capacities across UN agencies in India to support SDGs.Provided advisory and technical support to Minister of Finance and Planning, State Government of Maharashtra to localize SDGs by setting up 'Action Room to Reduce Poverty' to develop data monitoring systems which used artificial intelligence, formulate livelihood strategies, engage with private sector, and foster entrepreneurship.Designed and coordinated multi-site viability assessments of data management platforms for monitoring SDGs and development schemes in West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Assam; developed comparative analysis of development data systems in Maharashtra and Gujarat in consultation with Maharashtra Remote Space Application Centre and Gujarat Integrated Statistical System.Authored a policy note titled ‘Beyond Jobless Growth – The Future of Jobs in India’ for the Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog; a paper titled ‘The Perfect Storm – Water in India’, in collaboration with Council on Energy, Environment & Water, for the Ministry of Water Resources; and a report for the Chief Minister’s Office, Government of Rajasthan outlining key policy strategies in priority sectors such as education, health, employment and skilling, water, energy and road infrastructure.

New Delhi Area, India

Advised Finance Minister and Secretary, Economic Affairs in strategic policy dialogues and formulation of India’s position in multilateral negotiation meetings prior to signing of agreements on BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) which resulted in India securing first Presidency of NDB, key Vice-Presidency of AIIB, equal shareholding in NDB, and second-largest shareholding in AIIB. Invited as part of the Indian delegation to Beijing and Tbilisi to multilateral chief negotiators’ meetings, ministerial meetings and during the signing of the Articles of Agreement of AIIB.Formulated India’s position in NDB and AIIB on key operational policy documents such as by-laws and rules of procedure of Board of Governors and Board of Directors, environmental and social framework, procurement, debt sustainability, financial policy, HR policy, access to information policy, organizational structure including oversight mechanisms, annual operational budgets, and business plans.Conducted macroeconomic and policy research, and prepared detailed and periodic briefs on the global economic outlook, conjecture, and risks. Authored monthly newsletters – ‘G20 Economy Watch’ for update of macroeconomic developments and policy issues; and ‘Select Economic Indicators for G20 Countries’ for comparative analysis of India vis-à-vis other G20 members.

New Delhi Area, India

Managed large field teams and conducted baseline survey for Government of Rajasthan of 5000 households belonging to tribal community called Sahariyas; constructed an Index for the Environmental Assessment of Indian States; prepared a Panchayat Strengthening Index with the Indian Institute of Public Administration to rank Indian States on devolution of powers to sub-administrative units (panchayats); undertook a social impact assessment for Tata Steel’s operations in Jharkhand and Odisha; managed the formation and upkeep of real-estate database of residential, commercial and retail projects in seven Tier-I cities across India.

Worked in the Projects Department which handles Research projects from various entities.

Master Of Arts (M.A.), Economics

Activities and Societies: Worked on a project on the consumption and expenditure patterns of migrant workers in Delhi. Presented a paper.

Research Assistant, Behavioral Economics

Audited a course on Experimental and Behavioral Economics. Assisted in an economics experiment on Bertrand Competition with alternative.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Economics