The National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) is a centre for research in public economics and policies. Founded in 1976, the institute undertakes research, policy advocacy and capacity building in areas related to public economics. One of the major mandates of the institute is to assist the Central, State and Local governments in formulating and reforming public policies by providing an analytical base. The institute was set up as an autonomous society, at the joint initiative of the Ministry of Finance, Planning Commission, several State governments and distinguished academicians. It is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
In its 40 years of existence, the institute has emerged as a premier think tank in India, and has made significant contribution to policy reforms at all levels of the government. It has maintained close functional links with the Central and State governments all along, and has built up linkages with other teaching and research institutions both in India and abroad. Although the institute receives an annual grant from the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and various State governments, it maintains an independent non-government character in its pursuit of research and policy.
The NIPFP maintains close functional links with the Central and State Governments in India, and actively collaborates with bilateral and multilateral donor agencies in pursuing its research and training agenda. It also works in close collaboration with a number of academic institutions both in India and abroad, to gain deeper insights on issues of public economics. Presentably, the Institute has collaborative studies and training programmes with the scholars from Columbia University, New York; University of California, Santa Cruz; University of Toronto, Toronto; Georgia State University, Atlanta; Australian National University, Canberra and London School of Economics, London. The faculty of the Institute also collaborates in research and teaching activities with a number institutes in India and abroad. They are also associated with world-wide research networks and serve as members on national and state-level commissions, professional organisations, and management boards of various institutions.
The governing body of NIPFP comprises of three representatives of the Ministry of Finance, one representative of the Planning Commission of India, one representative of the Reserve Bank of India, three representatives of sponsoring State governments, three distinguished economists, three heads of sister research institutions, and members of other sponsoring agencies and invitees. At present, Dr. Vijay Kelkar, former Chairman of the Thirteenth Finance Commission, is the Chairman of the Governing Body.
