Abhishek has been involved in various independent and collaborative research engagements that primarily focussed on the questions of the functioning of state institutions, state processes, and their interaction with and accountability towards citizens. He is a founding member of the Uttarakhand Research Group.
He was awarded the Girish Sant Memorial Young Researcher Fellowship in 2018-19 to evaluate the Social Impact Assessment framework in India with a focus on a proposed hydropower project in the Indo-Nepal border. He also looked into the questions of accountability in environmental governance under this research fellowship.
Abhishek holds a Master’s in Public Policy and Governance.
Publications
Research Reports/Chapters
- ‘Reflections on Social Impact Assessment in Indian Context: An Engagement with SIA report of Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project’, GSM Fellowship, Prayas Energy Group. (March 2020, available here).
- ‘CAG Audit Reports and Hydropower Projects: A Commentary’, GSM Fellowship, Prayas Energy Group. (March 2020, available here).
- Book Chapter: Himanshu U.&Abhishek Punetha, ‘Inordinate delays in the Tabling of Audit Reports in Legislatures’, Government Audit and Governance, Institute of Public Auditors of India, New Delhi (2020).
Articles
Articles in The Caravan, The Wire, Deccan Herald, Scroll, Citizen Matters, The Wire Hindi