Career
Srijan Pal Singh studied at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), where he was actively involved in social and developmental activities. During the academic year 2008–09, he was elected President of the Students' Union, demonstrating early leadership in governance and public affairs.
After graduating from IIM-A, he worked as a Management Consultant with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). [1] At BCG, he collaborated with the World Food Program to enhance governance and transparency in the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Naxal-affected areas of Odisha. [2]
Between 2009 and 2015, he worked closely with Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India, as his Officer-on-Special-Duty and Advisor (Technology and Policy). During this period, he contributed to key national initiatives, including the What Can I Give Movement, which engaged over 500,000 volunteers across India in promoting a clean, green, and corruption-free nation. He also worked on India's Energy Independence Mission, contributing to discussions on nuclear energy and space programs. He played a crucial role in Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas (PURA), a rural development initiative that was later adopted as a national program by the Government of India in partnership with private corporations. [3]
During this time, he co-authored three books with Dr. Kalam. Target 3 Billion, published in 2011, focused on sustainable rural development and proposed solutions that later influenced national policies. [4] In 2015, he co-authored Reignited: Scientific Pathways to a Brighter Future, a book aimed at inspiring young people to pursue careers in science, and Advantage India: From Challenge to Opportunity, which examined India’s economic and technological potential.
In 2012, he and Dr. Kalam co-founded the Kalam Foundation, with Singh serving as Managing Director, while Dr. Kalam was the Chairperson. After Dr. Kalam’s passing in 2015, Singh continued his mentor’s legacy by leading the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Centre, where he now serves as CEO. The center focuses on youth empowerment, education, rural development, and public policy.
He has been actively involved in public policy and governance, holding advisory roles in multiple government initiatives. In 2014, he was appointed as a Member of the Expert Team for the Shyama Prasad Mukherji RURBAN Mission by the Government of India. In 2016, he was named a Mentor for the Uttar Pradesh Startup Policy, [5] a ₹10 billion fund dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship. He has also served as a Member for Innovations in the Maharashtra Water Resource Regulatory Authority, contributing to the development of water management solutions.
In 2014, he co-founded Barefoot IT, an initiative aimed at empowering rural communities through technology and policy. Under this, he launched e-Spandana, a platform designed to connect rural citizens with their elected representatives to address community issues. [6] The initiative was created to bridge the gap between government services and rural populations.
He has also been a strong advocate for space education and scientific awareness in India. He co-founded Mars Mission India, an initiative aimed at increasing awareness about space exploration and technology among Indian youth. He has also led Mars simulation missions from India, providing students with hands-on experience in space science and research.
As an author, Singh has written extensively on management, urban development, and leadership. In 2015, he published Excellence in Management, a study on best practices in public sector management, focusing on Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, published by UNDP. [7] In 2015, he wrote Smart and Human: Building Cities of Wisdom, which was India’s first book on smart cities, advocating for sustainable urban planning. In 2017, he published The Black Tiger, a bestseller that was launched by Anna Hazare.
His writings have been featured in The Hindu, Times of India, BusinessWorld, and Rajasthan Patrika. [8] As a public speaker, he has delivered talks at TEDx events, [9] the Australia-India Youth Dialogue (AIYD), [10] and several entrepreneurship and governance conferences.
He has also contributed to academia, serving as a visiting faculty at IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Indore, where he lectures on leadership, community action, and development.
