Bhakti Kelkar Faculty Advisor: Radhika Krishnan Research Areas: Just Energy Transitions; Socio-Technical Transitions; Solar Energy Email: bhakti.kelkar@research.iiit.ac.in 🔗 linkedin.com

Bhakti is a PhD student at IIIT Hyderabad, focusing on the social and policy dimensions of energy transitions. She holds a master's degree in ecological economics from the University of Leeds, UK, and a bachelor's degree in economics with a minor in sustainability and development from Azim Premji University, Bengaluru. Before joining IIIT Hyderabad, she worked for a couple of years as a research associate at Prayas Energy Group, a Pune-based research organisation, contributing to energy systems modelling and policy analysis.

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Current Research

Research Statement: Bhakti's research explores the socio-political dimensions of energy transitions, emphasising the role of justice, democracy, and power dynamics in shaping sustainable and equitable outcomes. While techno-economic considerations dominate energy policy discussions, she seeks to understand the social and political factors that influence these transitions. Using a political ecology framework, she examines who benefits and who bears the costs of energy transitions, aiming to contribute to more just and inclusive energy policies.