Data & policy analyst
Stata, R, Python
- Remote
- Varies
- Qualification
- Typically Master of Arts or Bachelor of Science (B.Sc).
- Read
- 1 min
What the work involves
Day to day
Using data to evaluate and design policy - building datasets, running impact and statistical analysis, and turning results into recommendations that non-technical decision-makers can act on.
Who this suits
Fit
Quantitatively trained graduates who want public impact rather than commercial work. Evidence-based policy has gained real ground in India across government units, multilateral agencies and research organisations, and the skills transfer to the private sector if you change your mind.
The honest reality
Read this one
Much of the work is project or grant-funded with fixed-term contracts rather than permanent posts. Pay is well below equivalent private-sector analytics. Administrative data in India is frequently incomplete or inconsistent and cleaning it dominates the timeline. Rigorous evidence is regularly set aside for political reasons, and watching that happen repeatedly is the main reason people leave the field.
How you get there
Step by step
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2 years Step 1Finish school
Class 12 with Commerce or Maths
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5 years Step 2Qualify
Complete B.A. or B.Sc Economics, then a master's.
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Step 3Enter the field
Typical first position: Data & policy analyst.
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Step 4Build and specialise Optional
Move into research leadership, or into policy and advisory work.
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You are hereData & policy analyst
Everything above leads here. The steps marked optional can be skipped or taken later — they change how fast you arrive, not whether you can.
Courses that lead here
How to qualify
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