Mr. Baijayant "Jay" Panda is a Member of Parliament of India, Lower House (Lok Sabha), representing the Kendrapara constituency, Odisha. He is the national vice president and spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Earlier he has also been a member of the Upper House (Rajya Sabha), also from the State of Odisha.

He graduated from the Michigan Technological University and, with a background in Engineering and Management, worked in the corporate sector before joining politics. He takes keen interest in India’s foreign affairs and is involved in a number of Track 2 dialogues with the US, Japan, China, Pakistan, South Korea, etc.

In Parliament and public life, Mr. Panda passionately espouses the cause of his home state Odisha as well as other national issues close to his heart, such as economic development, education and information technology. He is currently the Chairperson of the Committee on Public Sector Undertakings.

Dr. Fauzia Khan is a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, representing the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and serves as the National President of the Women’s Wing of the NCP. In June 2024, she was renominated to the Panel of Vice-Chairpersons in the Rajya Sabha.

Dr. Khan has a rich political background spanning over two decades. She has also been a two-time M.L.C., i.e., a member of the Legislative Council, the upper house of the Maharashtra Legislature. As the first Muslim woman in the state to serve as a minister in Maharashtra, she served as Minister for General Administration, Education, Health, and Women and Child Development, where she initiated several progressive reforms to improve the state’s governance and welfare system.

Mr. Gaurav Gogoi is a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha representing the Jorhat constituency in Assam. He is the Deputy Party Leader for the Indian National Congress in the Lok Sabha. Currently, he is a member of the Business Advisory Committee, the Joint Committee on The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Committee on Finance.

Mr. Gogoi holds a Master of Public Administration from New York University. He used to work with Airtel early in his career and moved to a Delhi-based NGO called Pravah in 2005, and also founded the NGO Farm2Food, focusing on children's nutrition and organic farming. He holds a B.Tech. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi.

Mr. KR Suresh Reddy is a Member of Rajya Sabha from Telangana. Previously, he has been the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh from 2004 to 2009. He represents the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party and is currently its Party Leader in Parliament.

Educated at Nizam College, Osmania University in Hyderabad, Mr. Reddy has previously been President, Andhra Pradesh Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and Director, Andhra Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation.

He began his political career as the Mandal Youth Congress president in 1984 and rose up the ranks, while contesting elections at different levels of government.

Ms. Chaturvedi is a Member of Parliament representing Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha. She is a member of the Shiv Sena (UBT).

She started her career as Director of MPower Consultants, a Media, PR and event management company and has previously been a columnist for Tehelka, Daily News and Analysis, and Firstpost. As a trustee of two NGOs, she works to promote children's education, women's empowerment and health.

Before joining the Shiv Sena (UBT), she was a member of the Indian National Congress and has also held the post of General Secretary of the Indian Youth Congress from North-West Mumbai. She graduated in Commerce from the Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics in 1999.

Sri Krishna Devarayalu Lavu is a Member of Parliament from the Narasaraopet constituency in Andhra Pradesh. He represents the YSR Congress Party which he joined in 2014.

Currently, he serves as a member of the Finance Committee, the Joint Committee on The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Business Advisory Committee. He completed his Graduation B.Tech from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam and studied Media studies at La Trobe University, Australia, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. He also serves as the Vice Chairman of Vignan University in Andhra Pradesh.

Mr. Vishal Patil is a Member of Lok Sabha representing Sangli since 2024. He was previously a member of the Indian National Congress, but was elected as an independent candidate in this election.

He has an undergraduate degree in commerce from H. R. College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai. In Parliament, he has been passionately espousing the cause of his home state and constituency, especially with regard to agriculture, health, education and infrastructure development including railways and ports.

• Study the historical background of lateral entry for government roles in India. How has this evolved over the years? 
• What specific skills or expertise can be brought in from other sectors that are currently lacking in the bureaucracy? How can the introduction of lateral entry impact the overall governance quality and public service delivery in India? 
• How can the government balance the need for specialized skills with the traditional meritocratic principles that govern civil service recruitment? What measures can be implemented to ensure that lateral entrants are effectively integrated into the existing bureaucratic framework without disrupting established processes?
• Evaluate whether lateral entry can help address existing inequities within the civil service by diversifying the talent pool. What specific mechanisms can be put in place to ensure that lateral entry positions are accessible to a broad spectrum of candidates, including women, minorities, and individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds? Discuss strategies for ensuring fairness and equity in selection. 
• Consult domestic and international experts/ stakeholders and examine case studies from 2-3 other country contexts to consider potential pathways for lateral entrants to India’s bureaucracy. Based on your findings, suggest some reforms that you think the government should prioritize.

• Analyze the existing state of cryptocurrency usage in India, including market size, user demographics, and prevalent practices such as trading behaviors, investment motives, and technological familiarity.
• Assess specific risks of cryptocurrency adoption, such as fraud, volatility, and money laundering while also evaluating the potential upsides of a cryptocurrency market.
• What regulatory levers (e.g., licensing requirements, taxation policies, anti-money laundering protocols) could be implemented to create a safe environment for cryptocurrency transactions while fostering innovation?
• Based on your research, suggest recommendations for regulating cryptocurrencies in India, considering the country's strong economic and technological landscape, and assess how these recommendations compare with the regulatory frameworks implemented in leading cryptocurrency-adopting countries like the United States, European Union, and Singapore.
• In particular, consider how the recommendations can balance the need for regulation with the promotion of technological advancement in the fintech sector?

• What is the rationale behind gender budgeting and why is it relevant for India? Trace the history and evolution of gender budgeting in the country. 
• Review past union budgets to identify trends in gender-sensitive allocations. Have there been significant shifts in policy focus or funding levels over time and how have past budgets addressed issues such as women's health, education, employment, and social welfare? Specifically, where does the Union Budget 2024-25 stand in the context of previous budgets?
• What metrics or indicators can be developed to evaluate the impact of gender budgeting on socio-economic outcomes for women in India?
• Based on your research and evaluation of best practices from across the globe, what would you recommend? How can gender-responsive budgeting practices be promoted in future budgets? As you craft your recommendations, please also identify challenges in implementing the suggested practices and stratify these based on the different stakeholders in the gender budgeting exercise at the Union level. Suggest capacity building measures that can be undertaken to address these challenges.

• What are India’s renewable energy goals, and to what extent is India dependent on imports—particularly from China—for essential technologies and components in its energy transition? What is the scale of this dependency, and how might it impact the country’s energy security and economic resilience in the long run?
• What specific areas of India’s renewable energy infrastructure (e.g., solar, wind, and battery technology) are most vulnerable to supply chain disruptions due to dependence on imports, specifically from China? How do these dependencies affect India’s energy security and its broader sustainability objectives?
• What domestic capabilities need to be developed or enhanced to support local manufacturing of renewable energy technologies and which sectors should the government prioritize for investment?
• How can public policy incentivize investment in research and development (R&D) for indigenous renewable energy solutions? What role can international partnerships play in diversifying supply chains and fostering collaboration in renewable energy technology development?
• Devise a plan for reducing India’s dependence on imports from China for energy transition. Propose long-term strategies that align with India's broader energy security goals while reducing dependence on foreign suppliers. Highlight the challenges and limitations of such a plan and suggest how those can be overcome.

• Evaluate the overall economic potential of Assam's key industries. What unique advantages do these sectors offer for regional development, job creation, and sustainable growth?
• Study existing literature and consult stakeholders to identify the most prominent challenges faced by these sectors, including but not limited to infrastructure deficits, regulatory barriers, access to finance, and environmental concerns. 
• Are there gaps or inefficiencies in current policies that hinder sectoral growth? What reforms do you think are necessary to create a conducive environment for industrial development in key sectors with potential?
• Explore interdependencies among various sectors and discuss how sustainability can be integrated into the growth strategies of key sectors in Assam to ensure that economic development does not come at the expense of environmental degradation.
• Are there best practices from other similar socio-economic contexts that could be replicated in Assam? Based on your research, provide recommendations for strategic interventions that can foster growth across key industries while addressing their specific challenges.

• How has India’s foreign policy evolved since Independence, and what major shifts characterize recent years? Are there any insights that can be gained from recent high-level visits by international leaders to India, and what are the implications of these engagements for enhancing India’s diplomatic relationships and strategic alliances?
• How does India participate within multilateral platforms such as the G20 and BRICS to address global issues, including climate change, security, and economic cooperation? Assess India’s role in influencing outcomes within these forums by examining specific cases and evaluating its impact on global policy.
• In what ways have regional tensions, particularly with China and Pakistan, shaped India’s foreign policy decisions? What strategies is India currently using to navigate complex regional dynamics, and how do these approaches align with its broader geopolitical goals?
• How are India’s global perception and emerging power status reflected in the speeches and narratives of international leaders? Examine whether India’s foreign policy is influenced by domestic political considerations, including public opinion and electoral pressures, and analyze how these factors might be shaping India’s diplomatic strategies.
• Based on an assessment of India’s current approach, what strategic recommendations could strengthen its foreign policy initiatives? Are there insights to be drawn from other countries' experiences that may provide useful lessons for India’s global engagement?

• How has the amalgamation of previous ministries, including the Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, impacted the Ministry of Jal Shakti's approach to water resource management? To what extent has inter-departmental coordination improved with the new structure, and what challenges persist in harmonizing goals and resources across previously independent ministries?
• What has been the union and states' share of outlay in the Jal Jeevan Mission over the five year period since the Ministry’s inception? Based on your research and stakeholder consultations with sectoral experts, how can financial monitoring mechanisms be enhanced or newly implemented to guarantee that allocated funds are utilized effectively and reach targeted milestones on time?
• Can states be encouraged to sustainably supplement union funds, particularly where funds fall short of covering infrastructure development or maintenance? What role should outcome-based funding play to motivate states to prioritize efficient water service delivery?
• Finally, how can different schemes like the Atal Bhujal Yojana (focusing on groundwater management) and Jal Jeevan Mission (focused on providing piped water supply) be better aligned to achieve broader water security goals?

• What does the proposal for “one nation, one election” actually entail? Provide the historical perspective on the norm of simultaneous elections in the pre-1967 era and trace the evolution of the debate on the proposal of “one nation, one election” in India. 
• Examine how the forthcoming delimitation exercise planned by the central government for 2026 will impact future elections, especially, in the context of the ‘one nation, one election’ proposal. Investigate potential risks associated with the proposal, including whether delimitation based on census figures disproportionately disadvantages southern states in terms of representation. What factors contribute to this imbalance?
• What do the Constitution and Delimitation Act, 2002 lay down with respect to the manner of carrying out delimitation? Are there specific legislative amendments that one could propose to assuage the concerns of the South?
• Evaluate the logistical implications of conducting simultaneous elections. What infrastructure and administrative changes would be necessary to facilitate this transition and what mechanisms can be introduced to prevent dominance by more populous states in the electoral process?
• Reference findings from the 2024 High-Level Committee report on Simultaneous Elections and conduct a comparative analysis of electoral processes in similar democracies, particularly focusing on methodologies adopted by countries like the United States.

• What should be the primary objectives of AI regulation in India?
• To what extent do existing laws (such as the Information Technology Act, Data Protection Act, and Copyright and Trademark laws, Consumer Protection Act) cover key aspects of AI governance, and where do critical gaps remain?
• What ethical principles (e.g., transparency, non-discrimination, accountability) should be incorporated into India’s AI regulatory framework, and how should these principles be enforced?
• Should there be specific institutional frameworks or regulatory bodies that are established or empowered to oversee AI in India, ensuring coordinated governance across sectors? 
• What lessons can India draw from global AI regulatory frameworks, such as the EU’s AI Act or the U.S. National AI Initiative, to inform its own legislation?
• Based on your findings, give policy recommendations on how AI regulation should address the unique needs of India’s digital ecosystem.

• What are Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs), and what should be the core objectives of VDA regulation in India? How can these regulations support a secure yet innovation-friendly environment in the digital economy?
• How should legislation differentiate between various types of VDAs, such as cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, NFTs, and other digital tokens, to ensure targeted oversight that addresses each asset’s unique risks and benefits?
• To what extent do India’s existing legal frameworks, such as the RBI Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, currently cover VDA-related activities? Where are the critical regulatory gaps, and what risks do these pose to financial stability and consumer protection?
• How can cross-border VDA transactions be regulated to prevent illicit financial flows and align with international anti-money laundering standards? What challenges exist in monitoring these transactions effectively and how can India collaborate with international bodies?
• What lessons can India draw from global regulatory approaches to VDAs, such as the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, to inform its own legislation?
• Based on your research, identify specific policy recommendations that can be made for a VDA regulatory framework in India that balances innovation with financial stability.

• Critically evaluate the functioning of India’s Parliament over the last 25 years. What metrics can be used to assess productivity in terms of bills passed, sessions held, and overall legislative output?
• What trends can be identified in the passage of bills from the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to the current government? How have session durations changed, and what factors have influenced these trends? Are there significant variations in bill passage rates between different governments or political coalitions?
• How has the quality of discussions and debates in Parliament changed over time? What issues have been prioritized during debates, and how well do these reflect the concerns of diverse constituencies? Are there demographic or regional disparities in representation that need to be addressed?
• What role do parliamentary procedures play in facilitating or hindering meaningful discourse on critical issues? Are there specific instances where debates have significantly influenced policy outcomes?
• Based on your analysis, what recommendations can be made to improve the functioning of Parliament? Consider aspects such as procedural reforms, mechanisms for increasing accountability, improving public engagement, and fostering a more inclusive legislative process.

• Provide a brief overview of the current state of air pollution in India. Explain how it has intensified in the last few decades and examine its impact. What specific health impacts (e.g., respiratory diseases, cardiovascular issues) and economic costs (e.g., healthcare expenses, loss of productivity) are associated with poor air quality?
• Map the major stakeholders involved in addressing the problem of air pollution in India. What roles do they play in implementing policies and initiatives aimed at reducing pollution levels? What are the distinct responsibilities of state and central governments in addressing air pollution under the existing laws and regulations? Where do overlaps exist and what accountability issues arise from these overlaps? How can they be addressed to improve governance? 
• How effective are current enforcement mechanisms for air quality standards? What limitations exist in monitoring air pollution levels across different regions, and how do these limitations impact policy effectiveness?
• Are there learnings that can be drawn from similar socio-economic contexts globally or best practices from regions within India? Based on your research, what collaborative governance models can be proposed to enhance cooperation between central and state governments in tackling air pollution? How can these models facilitate data sharing, resource pooling and shared accountability?