Bikalp Chamola

Areas of Interest & Expertise

  • Nonprofit governance and management
  • Collaborative governance
  • Institutional isomorphism
  • Process research
  • Mixed-methods research

Biography

Bikalp completed his PhD in Management (specialising in public policy) from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (2019 – 2026). During his doctoral research, he examined the antecedents and dynamics of cross-sectoral collaborations in the Indian nonprofit sector.

His current research centres around two themes: (1) the long-term impact of nonprofits in specific geographies using realist evaluation approaches, and (2) the historical emergence and contemporary practices of community-based enterprises, such as cooperatives and self-help group federations. He also explores institutional isomorphism across nonprofits.

A mixed-methods researcher, Bikalp draws on diverse data sources — including household surveys, satellite data, in-depth interviews, focus-group discussions, and archival analysis.

Prior to his PhD, he served as a researcher at Tata Trusts (2016 – 2019) and a young professional at Rajasthan Gramin Ajeevika Vikas Parishad, Government of Rajasthan (2015 – 2016). He holds a post graduate diploma in rural management from the Institute of Rural Management Anand (2013 – 2015) and a BSc (H) in Mathematics from the University of Delhi (2010 – 2013).

From 2024 – 2025, he consulted for organisations including Saath Charitable Trust (white paper on urban multi-purpose cooperatives), Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (impact report), VikasAnvesh Foundation (book chapter on state-civil society relations), and Indian School of Development Management (long-term NPO impact study with Professional Assistance for Development Action).

Courses

Publications 

Journal article 

Chapters in edited books 

  • Singh, M. & Chamola, B. (2017) Liberating from the shackles of discrimination: Ashif Shaikh and Jan Sahas Social Development Society. In Phansalkar, S. & Kanitkar, A. (Eds.) Gems of purest ray serene: Glimpse into the lives and work of India’s outstanding social workers (pp. 39 – 49), Tata Trusts and Samakalin Prakashan, Pune.
  • Chamola, B. & Kher, V. (2017) Bringing water to parched Vidharbha: Madhukar Dhas and Dilasa Sanstha. In Phansalkar, S. & Kanitkar, A. (Eds.) Gems of purest ray serene: Glimpse into the lives and work of India’s outstanding social workers (pp. 103 – 111), Tata Trusts and Samakalin Prakashan, Pune
  • Chamola, B. (2017) A bright beginning in the desert: Rajesh Singhi and Ibtada. In Phansalkar, S. & Kanitkar, A. (Eds.) Gems of purest ray serene: Glimpse into the lives and work of India’s outstanding social workers (pp. 167 – 177), Tata Trusts and Samakalin Prakashan, Pune

Reports 

  • Singh, P., Sarin, A., Bhatia, P., Chamola, B. (2023) Non-Profit Sector Survey 2022 – 23: A report on preliminary results In India’s Million Missions: 75 Years of Service Toward Nation-Building India’s Non-Profit Sector Report (pp.39 – 58). GuideStar India. Jaipur Literature Festival, 2023.
  • Kanitkar A., Chamola B. (2019) Working with the poorest of the poor through graduation approach In State of India’s Livelihoods Report 2018 (pp. 101 – 114) Access Development Services. New Delhi
  • Chamola B. (2018) Small Pumps Big Hopes: An exploratory study to understand the role of small irrigation pumps in enhancing incomes of small and marginal farmers in the Eastern States of India. Studies in Development Processes, Issue 5, VikasAnvesh Foundation, An Initiative of Tata Trusts, Pune, India

Blogs/​Website

  • Chamola B., Nanore G., Phansalkar S. (2018, Nov 22) Why the goal of digital inclusion is missing the point. India Development Review
  • Chavan S., Chamola B. (2018, April 28) Kamrup women lead artisan skills revival for improved livelihoods. The Wire
  • Chamola B. (2017, Dec 17) How development arrived in Madhya Pradesh’s Kapa Mal village.The Wire
  • Kireeti S., Chamola B. (2017, Oct 30) Technology-enabled sale streamlines fertiliser supply chain. YourStory
  • Chamola B. (2017, May 25) Using tiny pumps to irrigate vegetable fields could be the answer for Jharkhand’s small and marginal farmers. Huffington Post India
  • Chamola B. (2017, May 10). Solar pumps bring relief to smallholder farmers in Rayagada. VillageSquare
  • Chamola B. (2017, May 5). Small water pumps have changed the fortunes of marginal farmers in an Assam district. Scroll India

Peer-reviewed conference presentations 

  • Chamola B., Sarin A. (2024, Jul). Examining the making of nonprofit-government collaborations, presented at the 16th International Conference of the International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR), University of Antwerp, Belgium
  • Chamola B., Sarin A. (2023, Jul). Examining the making of collaborations in the Indian nonprofit sector, presented at the 7th Annual ARNOVA-Asia Conference, co-hosted by the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA), Kwansei Gakuin University and Tohoku University, Japan
  • Chamola B., Sarin A. (2022, Dec). Examining the making of collaborations in the Indian nonprofit sector, presented at the 4th Annual India Public Policy Network Conference, IIM Ahmedabad
  • Chamola B., Singh S. (2021, Aug). Beyond Leading: Understanding Leadership in Community-Based Organizations, presented at the XVI International Conference on Public Policy and Management, IIM Bangalore
  • Phansalkar S., Chandola A., Chamola B. (2021, Aug). Factors Influencing Sustainability in Collectives: Some Propositions, presented at the XVI International Conference on Public Policy and Management, IIM Bangalore
  • Phansalkar S., Chamola B. (2019, Jan). Fostering the digital within erstwhile development: Extent of and barriers to digital inclusion in South Rajasthan, presented at the International Conference on Digital Economy, IIM Raipur
  • Chamola B. (2018, Oct). Small Pumps Big Hopes: A Study to Explore the Role of Small Irrigation Pumps in Enhancing the Incomes of Small and Marginal Farmers in the Eastern States of India presented at the Global Water Security Conference for Agriculture and Natural Resources, organized by American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers at Taj Krishna, Hyderabad
  • Chamola B. (2018, Jan). Can small engines lead to prosperity? Exploring the role of small pumps in improving irrigation and enhancing on farm incomes of small farmers in Jharkhand presented at the International Conference on Agribusiness in Emerging Economies, TERI University, New Delhi
  • Chamola B. (2017, Sept). Is small beautiful in irrigation? A study to explore the role of small pumps in increasing on farm incomes in Assam presented at the International Academic Conference on Agriculture and Human Development in India, IIT Guwahati