ARTHA (Analytics and Research Thinktank for Holistic Action) is a research center at IIIT Bangalore focused on the intersection of policy and data science (including AI).
Research at ARTHA addresses data driven approaches to design policy interventions to promote evidence-based decision-making.
ARTHA was incubated by the Web Science Lab at IIIT Bangalore. ARTHA implements the Lead Knowledge Institution (LKI) initiative for NITI Aayog’s State Support Mission called NITI for States.
NITI for States for State Support Mission
NITI for States is an initiative under NITI Aayog that aims to strengthen the capacity of Indian states and union territories to drive effective governance, improve development outcomes, and accelerate progress toward national development goals. The State Support Mission (SSM) acts as a collaborative platform that offers technical assistance, data-driven decision-making support, institutional strengthening, and policy advisory services tailored to each state’s unique development context. It promotes evidence-based planning, innovative best practices, and state-level implementation frameworks aligned with national priorities. The SSM has several institutional components to facilitate implementation including designating Lead Knowledge Institutions (LKI) to provide domain and technical support.
IIIT-B has been nominated as a Lead Knowledge Institute under State Support Mission to promote evidence-based policy interventions using data science. Engagement with LKIs includes providing knowledge support to various SSM initiatives through research studies, organizing workshops, trainings, seminars or any other technical support as required by NITI Aayog for the implementation of the mission.