In an age where technology and global strategy converge more intimately than ever before, few individuals navigate this complex intersection with as much depth, clarity, and impact as Nitin Pai. A pioneering thinker, policy strategist, educator, and institution builder, Nitin Pai represents a rare blend of intellectual rigor, practical experience, and unshakable commitment to India’s national interest and democratic values.
From the bustling corridors of Singapore’s tech policy circles to the vibrant academic and policy ecosystem of Bangalore, his journey reflects the emergence of a new kind of public intellectual—one who straddles the domains of cyber and space power, defence economics, international relations, and ethical reasoning with effortless ease. His story is not just one of personal achievement; it is a beacon of how ideas, integrity, and innovation can shape the future of nations.
Nitin Pai: Building the Takshashila Institution: A Modern Gurukul for Policy
When Nitin Pai co-founded the Takshashila Institution, he was not merely creating a think tank—he was laying the groundwork for a renaissance in Indian public policy education. Located on Bangalore’s iconic Church Street, in a space aptly named LSpace (a loving nod to the magical realms of books and imagination), Takshashila is more than just a centre for research.
It is a bold experiment in cultivating independent thought, championing constitutional values, and preparing a new generation of leaders equipped to steer India through the challenges of the 21st century.
At Takshashila, Nitin Pai does far more than manage operations. He teaches graduate courses in international relations and public policy, curates multidisciplinary research, and provides intellectual leadership that extends from national defence to ethical governance. His daily engagement ranges from analyzing maritime strategy to ensuring the quality of coffee served at seminars—because for him, every detail matters in the pursuit of excellence.
A Global Mindset Rooted in Indian Values
Before returning to India in 2012, Nitin Pai had already carved a formidable reputation in Singapore. An electrical engineering graduate from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and a gold medallist from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, he served for over a decade in the Singapore government, working on landmark initiatives in the telecom and technology sectors.
His contributions included:
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Deregulating Singapore’s telecom industry
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Spearheading broadband infrastructure development
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Deploying strategic foresight in high-tech domains
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Playing a pivotal role in the submarine cable linking Singapore and Chennai, which helped transform India’s internet connectivity and digital economy
Between his government tenures, he also worked with SingTel, focusing on satellite and undersea cable sales across the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. This hands-on, international exposure to tech policy and infrastructure gave Pai a panoramic view of the world—a view that now informs his geopolitical research.
Scholar, Speaker, Strategist
Today, Nitin Pai is not just shaping policy through institutions but also ideas. As a regular columnist in Mint and ThePrint, he distils complex global dynamics into accessible insights for the wider public. His writings address everything from cyber and space strategy to defence economics, often highlighting the need for ethical reasoning in statecraft.
His lectures at prestigious defence and strategic institutions—including India’s College of Defence Management, Army War College, Indian Naval Academy, and Brunei’s Institute of Strategic Studies—have influenced the thinking of policymakers and military leaders alike.
He also serves as a non-resident Senior Fellow at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore, and is a board member of the Jal Seva Foundation (WaterAid India). His involvement with the Karnataka Vision Group on Higher Education and Research demonstrates his commitment to shaping India’s future both from the grassroots and the ivory tower.
Nitin Pai: The Human Side of a Thought Leader
Despite the accolades and achievements, Nitin Pai remains refreshingly grounded. A proud Bangalorean, an enthusiastic early internet explorer, and a thoughtful parent, his identity is deeply layered. He often jokes about his real job being the “refreshments manager” at Takshashila, ensuring coffee lives up to the quality of academic discourse.
His blog, The Acorn, once a vibrant hub for public policy discussion, and his writings, such as Debates with My Daughters, reflect his commitment to making complex ideas both human and humane.
He recalls his early encounters with the internet—first through a VT-100 terminal in 1993—and the joy of building a proto-social media platform (IGSoft) long before such platforms became ubiquitous. This early curiosity evolved into a lifelong mission to understand, build, and critique the structures that underpin our digital and geopolitical realities.
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