Artha Global

What distinguishes a good data visualisation from a great one? Ayush Patel, in a recent workshop at Artha Global, highlighted Edward Tufte’s principles reminding us data visualisations go beyond aesthetics to encompass clarity, purpose, and story telling. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4i2ALcJ Here are some key takeaways: Simplicity is key: Effective visuals avoid unnecessary complexity. They highlight the most important insights without overwhelming the viewer with excessive colours, labels, or details. Context matters: Summary statistics can often be misleading without proper context. A strong visualisation provides the necessary background, helping the viewer understand why the data matters and how it fits into the broader narrative. Purpose should be at the centre: Every visualisation should have a clear purpose. It must answer two fundamental questions: 'Why does this visual exist?' and 'What story does it convey or what question does it answer?' Without a clear sense of purpose, even the most visually appealing charts fail to deliver meaningful insights. Great data visualisation is not simply about design; it is about ensuring the data communicates a clear, actionable story. #DataVisualisation #DataScience

“Inflation Matters.”—emphasised Niranjan Rajadhyaksha, Executive Director at Artha Global, while commenting on the U.S. election that resulted in Trump’s return to office, in his latest piece for Mint. Read: https://bit.ly/4iiuytp “The lingering effect of past inflation on current voting behaviour—and perhaps economic behaviour such as wage demands or profit calculations—also means that choices are made in the shadow of the past rather than being solely based on what lies in the future.” The reason? 👇 High prices make daily life increasingly difficult for citizens, keeping this issue at the forefront of their concerns. Inflation, thus, has become one of the most significant factors influencing voters. The implications for politicians? Learn more: https://bit.ly/4iiuytp

Drawing on his extensive experience leading Artha Global's Clean Air Zones initiative, Vivek Vaidyanathan shared his insights on project implementation and fostering stakeholder buy-in, based on his work in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, during the LEZ webinar organised by ITDP - India.

Here are 4 takeaways from a recent roundtable hosted by the M.S. Chadha Center for Global India at Princeton University, Princeton Center for Information Technology Policy, and The DPI Academy (an initiative by Artha Global and eGov Foundation). Experts discussed #UPI’s governance, focusing on financial inclusion, security, and sustainability. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3OhCr4j 1. Out of 300 million UPI users, only 15 million are 'active users' conducting 10+ transactions a month. While #UPI adoption is widespread, consistent usage remains a challenge. Experts agree that true digital payment maturity is still a work in progress. 2. UPI has transformed financial inclusion, but challenges remain. While it can unlock credit for underserved communities, gaps in transaction data and gender disparities (only 30-40% of users are women) must be addressed for true, equitable inclusion. 3. As UPI grows, so does the risk of fraud. A recent study found 31% of new internet users since 2017 have fallen victim to scams. Experts discussed how UPI’s security features must evolve to tackle these emerging threats and build trust in digital payments. #DigitalSecurity 4. The future of UPI hinges on #financialsustainability and  #faircompetition. Experts highlighted risks of market concentration and the need for policies that balance innovation with stability, ensuring UPI remains accessible, secure, and reliable for India’s digital future. 

#DidYouKnow A single Bitcoin transaction uses as much energy as it takes to power a U.S. home for 50 days! Ravi Shankar Chaturvedi, Managing Dir. of Digital Planet, joined us at the Artha Global office. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4hTBpco “By 2030 it is projected that the world will hold 8.5 billion people and 50+ billion devices.” “Institutions shape digital societies in their likeness.” -Ravi Shankar Chaturvedi urged us to reflect further on our digital realities. Which of these insights hit you the hardest?

We appreciate the opportunity to contribute our perspectives to the UN Universal #DPISafeguards Framework; to sharpen the theory of change in the Framework Guide, drawing on past work and engagement in the ecosystem.  Read our response here: https://bit.ly/3UMxPqI The Framework would benefit from outlining how it borrows and learns from existing knowledge in the ecosystem. Articulating why existing frameworks for digital transformation and e-government are inadequate for DPI would strengthen the need for a unique approach to safeguards. The Guide understates a critical aspect of DPI that distinguishes it from other approaches — its infrastructural value, and how it enables the creation of new solutions and interactions across citizens, governments, and businesses, and consequently the associated risks. UNDP

Vivek Vaidyanathan, Principal at Artha Global, will be sharing key insights from Artha Global's Clean Air Zones work in Andhra Pradesh during the upcoming Low Emission Zones webinar being organised by ITDP - India.

'The book moves between the personal and the scientific, and the writers skilfully avoid jarring the reader with the resultant shifts in narrative and style,' Niranjan Rajadhayaksha, Exec. Dir. at Artha Global, reviews 'Iru: A Remarkable Life' for Mint. The review is a fresh look at a woman whose influence extends far beyond 'Yuganta': https://bit.ly/3ArJbcE

Faced with unpredictable demand from consumers, how are large Indian conglomerates changing where they invest their money? Niranjan Rajadhyaksha, Executive Director at Artha Global breaks it down in his latest Mint article. https://bit.ly/3CeRjh3

Excited to be part of this amazing network! Looking forward to what's coming next!