Economist / research analyst
think tanks, banks, NITI
- Remote
- Varies
- Qualification
- Typically Master of Arts.
- Read
- 1 min
What the work involves
Day to day
Analysing economic questions for an institution - building and interpreting data, modelling, writing research notes and reports, and briefing decision-makers in banks, think tanks, consultancies or government bodies.
Who this suits
Fit
Economics postgraduates with real quantitative and writing ability. India's policy research and financial research sectors have both expanded, and the work puts you close to questions that actually get decided.
The honest reality
Read this one
A master's is the minimum and a doctorate is expected for senior research roles. Positions are concentrated in a few cities and institutions, so the market is small and depends significantly on academic networks. Think tank funding shapes which questions get asked, and findings that are commercially or politically inconvenient may go nowhere. Indian data quality is often poor, and working around its gaps takes more time than the analysis.
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: Economist / research 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 hereEconomist / research 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
Roles within this career
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