Chanakya Centre for Sustainability
The Chanakya Centre for Sustainability aims to be a leading centre in India for research and education in sustainable development, fostering innovation, and empowering communities to create a resilient and equitable future for all.
Launch of
Chanakya Centre for Sustainability
The Chanakya Centre for Sustainability aims to be a leading centre in India for research and education in sustainable development, fostering innovation, and empowering communities to create a resilient and equitable future for all. It aspires to guide policy and empower communities toward a sustainable future by bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and actionable knowledge.
The centre prioritizes innovative research and policy development to create practical solutions influencing sustainability policies. The centre aims to develop comprehensive academic programs on sustainability. It also focuses on knowledge dissemination and stakeholder engagement by sharing researched knowledge through seminars, workshops, and publications and collaborating with governments and industries to shape sustainable policies and support startups.
The Centre focuses on four core areas
Sustainable Agriculture and Agricultural Materials
Urban Water Management with focus on Bengaluru
Soil Conservation for Ecological Balance
Behavioral Sustainability rooted in Indian Knowledge Systems
Prof. N H Ravindranath
Chairperson Retired Professor, Centre of Sustainable Technologies, IISc, Bangalore
Shri. Shashi Kumar
Member Founder & CEO at Akshayakalpa | Organic Farming & Dairy
Prof. B.V. Venkataram Reddy
Member Retired Professor, Centre of Sustainable Technologies, IISc, Bangalore
Prof. Anamika Barua
Member Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Guwahati
Prof. A.K. Gosain
Member Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
Dr. Bandi Venkateswarlu
Member Former Director, CRIDA, Hyderabad & Former Vice-Chancellor, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani
Prof. B.K. Tiwari
Member Retired Professor, Department of Environmental Studies, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong
Prof. Janakarajan
Member President, South Asia Consortium for Interdisciplinary Water Resources Studies, Secunderabad, Telangana
Shri Prakash Belawadi
Member Co-Founder, Centre for Film and Drama, Bengaluru
Prof. Vijaya Gopal Kakani
Member Professor, Associate Director of Research, Global Food Systems Institute, University of Florida, USA
Dr. Indu K. Murthy
Member Sector Head – Climate, Environment and Sustainability, Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy, Bengaluru
Faculty Members
Prof. P. G. Diwakar
Director, Centre for Sustainability, Chanakya University.
Former Scientific Secretary, ISRO
Ph.D., from National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), India
Dr. Deepthi Hebbale
Assistant Professor,
School of Biosciences.
Faculty Associate, Centre for Sustainability
Ph.D., Indian Institute of Science, India
Dr. Preethi Vijayaraghava reddy
Assistant Professor,
School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.
Faculty Associate, Centre for Sustainability
Ph.D., Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands
Dr. Kumaraswamy T R
Assistant Professor,
School of Law, Governance and Public Policy.
Faculty Associate, Centre for Sustainability
Ph.D., Bangalore University, India
Events and Conference
Workshop on AI-Driven On-Field Soil Health Assessment and Advisory
23
Feb 2026
International Conference on Climate Adaptation and Resilience for a Sustainable Planet
19
Feb 2026
International Conference on Climate Adaptation and Resilience for a Sustainable Planet
19
Feb 2026
SAJEEV: A Living Framework
5
Jun 2025Rooted in Wisdom, Growing with Nature
Raita Siri 2025
24
Apr 2025Empowering Farmers, Bridging Knowledge
Publications & Media
Kumaraswamy, T.R., Choudhury, M., Ponappa, S., Majumdar, S. (2025). A Significance of Climate Resilience: Strategies for Local, Regional, and National Levels. In: Choudhury, M., Dixit, G., Majumdar, S. (eds) Sustainable Synergy: Harnessing Ecosystems for Climate Resilience. Climate Change Management. Springer, Cham (Published).
“Empowering Local Governance for Sustainable Development: Exploring India’s Path to Achieving SDG Localization” at International Conference, Global Goals 2024, University of Utrecht, Netherlands -28th – 30th August 2024; Dr T R Kumaraswamy and Prof. Chetan Singai (Published).
“India’s Agricultural Policies and Sustainable Development Goals: A Comparative Analysis for Social, Ecological, and Economic Indicators for Sustainable Agriculture” at International Conference, AERC Platinum Jubilee Conference on “Sustainability of Agricultural Sector: Issues, Challenges and Policy Matrix,” Pune – 23rd – 24th December 2024; Dr T R Kumaraswamy and Dr Chetan Singai (Published).
Dave, N., & Hebbale, D. (2025). The prospect of bamboo and non-fodder rice husk for sustainable bioethanol production. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 1-14 (Published).
Approach Paper Published by the Centre on “Climate Resilient Agriculture”
Activities
Approach Paper on Climate Resilient Agriculture
Agriculture in India is highly vulnerable to climate change and variability with 51% of cultivated area under rainfed conditions. Flood is also a major problem in many parts of the country, especially in eastern part, where frequent flood events take place.
Talk on Building Sustainable Cities – A Social-Ecological Systems
Perspective from Dr Harini Nagendra
Dr Harini Nagendra emphasized urban sustainability’s critical challenges and opportunities, particularly in the Global South. She advocated viewing cities as integrated social-ecological systems
Symposium on Social and Solidarity Economy: The New Economics
for Sustainable Development
The Symposium on Social and Solidarity Economy: The New Economics for Sustainable Development emphasized the transformative role of the third sector in achieving sustainable development.
National Expert Workshop on Climate Resilient Agriculture
The National Expert Workshop on Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) at Chanakya University brought together experts to address the pressing challenges of climate change in agriculture
Infrastructure
Weather Monitoring Station (WMS)
Empowering Climate-Smart Agriculture at Chanakya University
The Weather Monitoring Station (WMS) at Chanakya University is a cornerstone initiative under the Centre for Sustainability, aimed at delivering hyperlocal, real-time weather insights to empower farmers, inform climate research, and support data-driven teaching.
Why WMS?
Agriculture is highly sensitive to weather variability. The WMS enables farmers in and around Devanahalli to make informed decisions regarding:
- Irrigation scheduling
- Fertilizer and nutrient management
- Pest and disease control
By integrating weather data into local practices, the WMS strengthens climate resilience and rural livelihoods.
Academic Integration
The WMS is an active learning resource in courses such as:
- Organic Farming
- Sustainability & Climate Change
It fosters student engagement in hands-on data analysis, forecasting models, and interdisciplinary research projects—linking technology, agriculture, and sustainability.
Research & Innovation
The station contributes to:
- Climate modeling and forecasting
- Rainfall variability analysis
- Development of agromet advisories
- Machine learning models for hyperlocal prediction
Impact Goals
- Enhance decision-making in smallholder agriculture
- Improve yield and reduce input costs
- Build adaptive capacity to face climate risks
Opportunities
Call for Applications: Non-Resident Fellow
Centre for Sustainability, Chanakya University
The Centre for Sustainability at Chanakya University is inviting applications for the position of Non-Resident Fellow to support field-based research and data collection activities in the Devanahalli region.
Position Details
Duration: 6 Months (Field-Based)
Location: In and around Devanahalli farms
Salary: ₹50,000 per month
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must hold a:
B.Sc. / M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences, Life Sciences, or a related field
Demonstrated interest in sustainability, agriculture, or field research preferred
Key Responsibilities
Conduct structured field surveys with farmers and stakeholders
Assist in data collection, documentation, and reporting as part of ongoing sustainability projects
Collaborate with the Centre’s research team to support publications and outreach
How to Apply
Interested candidates may email their CV and a brief cover note to:
Sustainability@chanakyauniversity.edu
Subject line: Application for Non-Resident Fellow – Devanahalli
Application Deadline
Date : 30-08-2025
This fellowship offers an opportunity to contribute directly to ground-level sustainability initiatives while engaging with interdisciplinary academic research and community development.
Contact Us
Get in touch with us for inquiries, feedback, collaborations, or any assistance related to our educational programs.
Sustainability@chanakyauniversity.edu
