years of experience
The Centre for Policy Research and Analytics (CRAN) is an All
India Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Training in
the Social Sciences. Established in 2013 and formally
registered in 2020 under the Karnataka Societies Registration
Act, 1960, CRAN bridges field-oriented empirical research with
advances in social science theory to enable better public
policy formulation across India.
Headquartered in Mysuru, Karnataka, CRAN operates with a
pan-India reach through a network of field investigators,
supervisors and coordinators deployed across all districts of
Karnataka and key states. With over 50 completed projects,
CRAN has established a strong reputation for rigorous,
data-driven research with actionable insights for governments,
international organisations, academic institutions, NGOs, and
the corporate sector.
To collect authentic information from society and transmit this knowledge to policymakers and implementers with an understanding of the space-specific socio-cultural dimension, for the successful operation of Developmental Programmes.
To bridge the gap between communities and decision-makers by delivering authentic, ground-level insights that drive inclusive, culturally-aware, and effective developmental programmes.
Our quality assurance process ensures accuracy and reliability at every stage of field operations. Supervisors conduct continuous spot checks, while back checks verify data with respondents for authenticity. Consent-based audio recordings are reviewed for sensitive interviews. Field teams undergo rigorous pre-field training covering research ethics and tools. All collected data is validated through consistency checks before final compilation. Weekly review meetings with clients and teams enable real-time monitoring, and all field investigators meet a minimum graduation qualification standard.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Head of Research Centre for Policy Research and Analytics (CRAN), Mysuru
Academic Qualification: Ph.D. in Economics and Cooperation, University of Mysore, Mysuru. Doctoral research focused on socio-economic dimensions of rural development, agrarian economics, cooperative institutions and public policy.
Professional Leadership: As the founding CEO of CRAN, Dr. Chaitra has steered the organisation into a nationally recognised centre for policy analytics. Under her leadership, CRAN has completed over 50 projects for institutions including IIT Kanpur, IIM Ahmedabad, NCAER, IRMA and Government of Karnataka departments.
Research Expertise: Survey design, socio-economic impact assessment, M&E frameworks, rural development analytics, women and child welfare studies, and Panchayati Raj governance research across 18+ Indian states.
Vision: To position CRAN as a leading South Asian centre for interdisciplinary social science research and evidence-based policy analytics.
Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Mysore, the CEO & Founder of CRAN, Mysuru brings extensive experience in research and field operations. Having successfully led 50+ projects across 18+ states, they possess strong expertise in managing large-scale, pan-India research initiatives and delivering impactful insights.
We conduct comprehensive socio-economic, techno-economic, and policy research surveys, along with baseline, midline, and end-line assessments to generate reliable insights. Our expertise also includes impact evaluations, feasibility studies, area development projects, consumer satisfaction surveys, opinion polls, and training needs assessments to support data-driven planning and decision-making.
We provide national-level monitoring and evaluation of key development programmes such as Swachh Bharat Mission, Gram Swarojgar Yojana, and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. Our services extend to tracking performance in rural development, WASH initiatives, women and child development, public finance, Panchayati Raj Institutions, and education systems including literacy and dropout monitoring.
We offer end-to-end market research solutions, including consumer behaviour studies, rural market analysis, trade and distribution research, advertising effectiveness studies, and marketing audits. Our insights support corporate planning, strategy formulation, and competitive analysis to help organizations make informed business decisions.
Our team specializes in primary data collection across all districts of Karnataka, combined with advanced analytics. We provide market analysis, price forecasting, procurement advisory, value chain analysis, risk management, and benchmarking using tools like SPSS and Microsoft Excel.
We focus on strengthening skills and knowledge through training programmes in research methodology and data analysis for NGOs and stakeholders. Our initiatives include seminars, workshops, short-term certification courses, and community mobilisation programmes aimed at empowering individuals and organizations.
We support organizations in planning and executing CSR initiatives through impact evaluation, beneficiary assessment, programme monitoring, and third-party verification. We also assist in documenting development innovations, creating process manuals, and ensuring effective implementation of CSR programmes across sectors.