About PRS India

PRS India is a leading non-partisan research organization that provides clear, data-driven analysis of the Indian Parliament’s functioning. Its focus on the Union and State Budgets makes public finance accessible through reports, demand-for-grants analyses, and explanatory resources. PRS promotes transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement, helping students and citizens alike understand how public money is collected and spent.

Abstract 

The Union Budget is one of the most important instruments of governance, shaping how public resources are collected and allocated across sectors such as health, education, defence, and welfare. Yet, its complexity often makes it inaccessible to most citizens. This talk by Dr. M. R. Madhavan and Mr. Chakshu Roy of PRS India will demystify the working of Parliament and the budgetary process. Drawing on PRS India’s non-partisan analyses, the session will explain how budgets are debated, how ministries’ demands for grants are scrutinized, and what trends in government spending reveal about policy priorities. Students will gain insights into the transparency and accountability of India’s legislative processes, and understand how informed citizens can engage more meaningfully with questions of governance and democracy.

Speaker Profiles

• Dr. M. R. Madhavan co-founded PRS in 2005 and is currently its President. A distinguished alumnus of IIT Madras and IIM Calcutta, Madhavan previously worked in financial markets with ICICI Securities and Bank of America. He was awarded the Business Standard Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 and is a Chevening Gurukul Scholar at LSE.
• Mr. Chakshu Roy heads the legislative and civic engagement initiatives at PRS. He is an expert on parliamentary rules and procedures, has built India’s first comprehensive database of state legislation, and regularly writes and trains journalists, civil society, and legislators on strengthening legislative processes. He is an IVLP and INK Fellow, and a graduate of Delhi University (Commerce and Law).