Education
June 2025 · Vienna, Austria
Master of Arts in Public Policy (with Distinction)
Central European University
Thesis: Geopolitics of AI Standardization and its Impact on Fundamental Rights
Supervisor: Cameran Ashraf, Ph.D.
Scholarship: CEU Foundation Budapest Scholarship (2024–25)
Selected coursework: Technology and Human Rights · Applied Regression Analysis for Public Policy · Artificial Intelligence and Public Policy · Global Governance · Policy Analysis
May 2023 · Pune, India
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws
Symbiosis International University
Five-year integrated undergraduate degree in law and social sciences.
Selected coursework: Cyber Laws · Public Administration · Public International Law · International Trade Law · Human Rights Law · Constitutional Law · International Law
Professional Experience
Nov 2025 – Present
Visiting Faculty
Lloyd Law College · Delhi-NCR, India
- Design and deliver lectures on technology law — platform regulation, AI governance, privacy, and information integrity — translating regulatory developments into practice-oriented learning.
- Build and assess applied coursework (case briefs, policy memos, simulations) to develop students' analytical and drafting skills on digital-rights issues.
Jul 2025 – Feb 2026
Strategic Advisor
Forum on Information & Democracy · Remote/France
- Shaped the research agenda on information integrity, platform governance, and democratic resilience across multi-jurisdiction contexts.
- Led multi-stakeholder coordination with researchers, civil society, and institutional partners; translated complex evidence into actionable policy guidance on disinformation risks and accountability.
- Delivered synthesis and quality assurance across drafts, consultations, and knowledge products — ensuring methodological rigor and rights-centric framing.
Jan 2025 – Jul 2025
Project Co-lead
CIVICA – The European University of Social Sciences · Vienna, Austria
- Secured a EUR 3,200 mini-grant under CIVICA's inaugural Student Engagement Fund.
- Led cross-institutional research with student teams from CEU and LSE on the impact of GenAI tools on higher education; held stakeholder discussions at both institutions.
Oct 2023 – Jan 2025
Rapporteur
Forum on Information & Democracy · Remote/France
- Co-led the Research Assessment Panel on Data Governance — contributing to the International Partnership for Information and Democracy, endorsed by 55 countries at the 74th UNGA.
- Coordinated with experts, States, and civil society to synthesise a global assessment of data governance architectures, open-source solutions, and sovereignty frameworks.
- Examined the impact of global regulations on information ecosystems and AI governance, with a focus on the Global South.
Oct 2023 – Aug 2024
Fellow
Software Freedom Law Centre, India · New Delhi
- Led the Free Speech & Expression project; conceptualised and co-created the Free Speech Tracker to systematically document online censorship by the Indian government.
- Researched open-source AI models and the regulatory frameworks governing their use by corporations and activist networks in India.
- Provided pro-bono digital security training to 100+ individuals — journalists, lawyers, and citizens.
- Represented SFLC.in in multi-stakeholder networks including GNI, IFEX, KeepItOn, and GEC.
Aug 2023 – Oct 2023
Internet Shutdown Scholar
Advocacy Assembly · Remote/UK
- Selected into the inaugural cohort of the Advocacy Assembly's Internet Shutdown Scholar programme (India).
- Trained in detection, documentation, measurement, and mitigation of internet shutdowns by international experts from IODA, Access Now, ISOC, and OONI.
Jan 2023 – Jul 2023
Legislative and Policy Associate
Office of Dr. Amar Patnaik (MP, Rajya Sabha) · New Delhi
- Authored 500+ parliamentary questions across a dozen ministries, five Private Members' Bills, and twenty policy briefs for the Budget and Monsoon Sessions 2023.
- Supervised a research team of 12+ associates; led stakeholder engagement with government officials, industry, and civil society.
Oct 2021 – Dec 2022
Policy Trainee
Internet Freedom Foundation · New Delhi
- Managed the Transparency vertical; filed 400+ RTI applications, first appeals, and second appeals across state and Union ministries.
- Collaborated with Human Rights Watch on a report documenting the economic consequences of internet shutdowns in India.
- Spearheaded parliamentary outreach to 12+ MPs on surveillance, data breaches, and data protection; drafted 100+ letters and nine public briefs.
Nov 2019 – Aug 2022
Research Associate
Scriboard Advocates and Legal Consultants · Remote/India
- Co-created a certificate course on AI and Law; contributed chapters on legal personhood, autonomous systems liability, and national AI strategies to an accompanying book.
- Produced research notes on data privacy, drone law, and global technology policy for external clients and internal teams with a cross-jurisdictional lens.
May 2021 – Oct 2021
Research Assistant
The Dialogue · New Delhi
- Co-developed encryptindia.org — India's first research repository on encryption policy; prepared Hindi translations of authoritative reports for wider public dissemination.
- Assisted on 20+ research briefs, 10+ policy events, and 10 public consultations with Union and State ministries.
Other Experience
Oct 2024 – Present
Student Researcher
Laboratorio do Territorio · Vienna, Austria
- Contributing to EU Horizon 2020 research on land use competition — examining biomass demand, Green Deal sustainability targets, and the policy frameworks governing land and food security.
Nov 2022 – Jan 2023
Editorial Assistant
Hasgeek · Remote/India
- Led a project on medical device regulation in India through a patient-rights lens; engaged academics, industry, and health researchers to inform the policy discourse.
- Supported the OneVote project on digital election participation; drafted outreach to MPs on the Election Commission's remote voting proposal.
Feb 2021 – Mar 2022
Volunteer
Project 39A, National Law University Delhi · Remote
- Exchanged 40+ letters with nine death row prisoners to support mitigation efforts; in three cases, the convicts were subsequently acquitted at appellate stages.
Nov 2020 – Feb 2022
Public Policy Researcher
Office of Pravir Srivastava · Remote
- Drafted 200+ parliamentary questions, 20+ resolutions, five Private Members' Bills (subsequently introduced in Parliament), and a citizen-benefit handbook spanning 20+ ministries.
- Produced a comprehensive policy brief on the Andaman & Nicobar Islands covering 15+ sectors.
Mar 2021 – Apr 2021
Researcher
IT for Change · Remote
- Researched the tension between privacy and the right to information, feeding into ITfC's long-term work on anonymity and public-sector accountability.
Jan 2021 – Feb 2021
Researcher
Agami India · Remote
- Built the first comprehensive dataset on all Justices of the Indian Supreme Court (1945–2019) — synthesising 20+ data points on 47 Chief Justices using R.
Leadership
Feb 2025 – Present
Advisory Board Member
NetMission.Asia · Remote/Hong Kong
- Advisor to a youth-led internet governance initiative for the Asia-Pacific region; review training modules, publications, and programme output.
Sep 2019 – Dec 2024
Cofounding Editor, InfoTech
Metacept® · New Delhi
- Co-built the platform and led a 10-member editorial team; published 50+ articles on technology law and emerging tech for law students and early-career professionals.
- Led five public consultations; organised four events; coordinated with partners, advisory board, and managed the internship programme.
Nov 2019 – Dec 2024
Admin-Head
Contego Humanitas Foundation · New Delhi
- Fundraised essential supplies for 146 refugee families in Delhi during the COVID-19 lockdown.
- Authored legislative comments to the Government of India on the PDPB 2019, Draft Drone Rules 2020, and the Transgender (Protection of Rights) Rules 2020.