The Energy Policy thematic area at Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur focuses on developing policy-driven solutions for climate change and sustainable energy transitions. At its core is the Chandrakanta Kesavan Centre for Energy Policy and Climate Solutions, established with support from Mr. Sudhakar Kesavan, an alumnus of the Class of 1976 from IIT Kanpur.The Centre is named in memory of his mother, Dr. Chandrakanta Kesavan, who was a role model for Indian women in science. She received her PhD in Acoustical Physics from Allahabad University in 1942, was a Fulbright post-doctoral scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and worked as a pioneering acoustical engineer and administrator at All India Radio, India’s national broadcaster. Sudhakar and Alka Kesavan have pledged USD 2.5 million towards supporting various activities of the Centre.

The Centre works at the intersection of technology, economics, and policy to support India’s commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement, enabling science-based and scalable solutions. Through research, education, and outreach, it aims to shape effective policies and build capacity for a sustainable and climate-resilient future.