Dr. Krishna Raj is Professor at Centre for Economic Studies and Policy, Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore, India. Earlier he was the Vice-Chairman (Dean) of Academic Programme Committee of ISEC. He also served as Liaison officer. He has successful 26 years of service as a researcher, teacher, supervisor, policy advisor to central and state governments, and expert committee member for various committees. He obtained a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Mysore. His research focuses on environmental economics, inclusive growth, economics of natural resources, climate change, and sustainable development. The recent studies include Traffic Congestion in Bengaluru, Urban Air Pollution, Financing Climate Change, Forests and biodiversity conservation in western ghats and Himalayas, River basin planning, Climate Change and Efficiency of Water Supply and Demand Management in New York and Bangalore Cities among others.
Earlier he served as Indian Council for Cultural Relation (ICCR) Chair Professor on Indian Economy under the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) Seoul, South Korea during 2011-12. He was a Visiting Scholar at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, USA. He is awarded with Sir Ratan Tata Trust Research Fellowship for collaborative research with University of Wisconsin, USA during 2013-14. He received Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) research fellowship to undertaken collaborative research with Watershed Institute, University of Wisconsin, USA. He had undertaken collaborative research with University of Guelph, Canada on Water Conflicts in Cauvery River Basin. He also visited University of San Francisco, USA.
He is the visiting professor to IMPRI, New Delhi, Kannur University, Kannur, Kerala. Earlier he was a visiting faculty at Bangalore Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics University, Bangalore. He was invited to NITI Ayog Think Tank on G20 workshop for policy suggestion on “inclusive Trade for Growth and Prosperity.” Organized by the NITI Ayog, New Delhi. He was Invited a distinguished delegate to speak on “Biodiversity and Climate Change” at the “Global Summit on LiFE Economy: From Principles to action” organised by the RIS, External Affairs Ministry, G20, government of India. His research on Unaccounted for Water (Non-revenue Water) in Bangalore city received good academic and policy response.
Prof. Krishna Raj’s Study on “Socio-economic Analysis of Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project” received high appreciation by the House Committee on BMICP and Karnataka Legislative Assembly.He served as the expert committee member of Government of Karnataka for preparing the Report on Reservation in Promotion by identifying the compelling reasons which resulted in favorable Supreme Court verdict.Currently he is a member of the expert committee on “Asset Monetization” constituted by the Government of Karnataka to enhance the tax and non-tax revenues through methods of asset monetization with private participation for key development works.
He was the Expert committee member to study the Issues of Karnataka State Open University after the withdrawal of UGC recognition and the report has helped to regain the UGC recognition. Currently he is a member of the task force on reviewing New Education Policy 2020 constituted by the Government of Karnataka to suggest policy to reduce inter-group in equality in accessing higher education by various socio-economic group. He was the members of several expert committees which include, National Green Tribunal, Government of India, submitted a report which resulted in imposition of Rs 52 crores compensation by the NGT on UPCL. Currently he is the Consultant National Economist for Asian Development Bank, Philippines to undertake research on River Basin Planning in Karnataka. He is also expert committee member of the Karnataka State Wetland Conservation Authority, Government of Karnataka, Scientific Auditing of Karnataka Residential Education Institutions, Government of Karnataka, Karnataka State Ecological Monitoring Committee as Special invitee. Central and Karnataka State Pollution Control Boards and also expert trainee on Environmental damage and environmental compensation.
He has submitted many reports to the Government of Karnataka which have socio-economic policy implications viz., Report on Socio-economic analysis of Bangalore Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project, Unaccounted for Water in Bangalore, State of Environment Report for Bengaluru and Karnataka, Nava Karnataka Vision Document, 2025, Reservation in Promotion, and Report on issues of KSOU to mention a few, environmental damage assessment and compensation on UPCL among others. He has been invited as a keynote speaker to more than 12 conferences, invited as expert panelist for about 30 panel discussions, and delivered over 123 invited as distinguished professor lectures. Dr. Krishna Raj ’s research works have been featured in national and international print and electronic media. He is the invited expert writer in The Tribune News Paper, New Delhi on contemporary issues faced by India and he regularly writes in Deccan Herald, and other newspapers and also online Blogs.
His recent publications include “Economic and Environmental Costs of Traffic Congestion in India” is published by Routledge publication, New Delhi and “Social Justice and Empowerment in Karnataka by Writers Choice Publications Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi. He is on the editorial board of a few journals and BOS members of a few Universities. He has currently undertaken 12 ongoing research projects with policy relevance, completed 11 research projects, published 7 books, 29 research papers, 5 Book reviews, 10 Working papers, 50 popular articles in News Papers, also policy papers. He served as panel expert in Live Television programs on contemporary economic and environmental issues in Door Darshan, All India Radio and many Private TV channels. He was invited as an expert for documentary film on Climate Change, “Red Hot Nation” produced by the Dark Horse Pictures, Mumbai. He has successfully guided and supervised theses of 10 Ph D Scholars who worked on diverse and contemporary research topics and currently 8 students registered under him for Ph D. He is teaching Microeconomics to the Pre-Ph D Students at ISEC. He organized a convention on “Constitution and Unity of India” along with Government of Karnataka in commemoration of the 75th years of constitution of India. Prof Raj through his teaching, research, and policy advocacy, continues to make meaningful contributions to the field of environmental economics and sustainable development at the state and national level.