Research Fellow

About the Organization

Oorja is a purpose-driven social enterprise dedicated to transforming agriculture through sustainable practices and renewable energy solutions. Oorja provides sustainable and affordable clean energy solutions to smallholder farmers in India, addressing key challenges in irrigation access, agricultural productivity, and climate resilience. Through a range of innovative models—such as Pay-Per-Use Irrigation (PPU), Fixed Monthly Installments (FMI), and Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) services—Oorja ensures reliable access to solar-powered irrigation. The PPU model allows farmers to pay based on water usage, while the EPC and FMI model enables ownership through flexible financing, coupled with entrepreneurship training that empowers farmers to generate income by reselling water. Oorja also offers Climate-Smart Farm Advisory services through trained agronomists, promoting sustainable practices, soil health, and adaptive seed selection. By integrating clean energy, financial inclusion, and rural entrepreneurship, Oorja drives higher agricultural yields, lower carbon emissions, and long-term economic growth for India’s rural communities.

https://www.oorjasolutions.org/

Fellowship Description:

Oorja is seeking a proactive and learning oriented research Intern to join our team. You will play a key role in conducting secondary research on specific government schemes and the solar pump market, which will directly support the business development and expansion of Oorja.

PM-KUSUM - Policy & Performance Research
1. Conduct focused secondary research on PM-KUSUM for DRE Solar Pumps across all Indian states.
2. Compile state-wise targets, achievements, and shortfalls, including year-wise progress where available.
3. Identify state implementing agencies, implementation models, and key bottlenecks affecting uptake.
4. Track and Document relevant guidelines, notifications, tenders and policy updates impacting deployment.

Market Demand Assessment – Plantation & Estate Agriculture
1. Assess market demand for solar pumps in plantation crops and estates owned or operated by large brands in India (e.g., tea, coffee, sugarcane, rubber, spices, horticulture).
2. Identify major plantation regions, estate sizes, irrigation practices, and water-energy requirements.
3. Estimate direct sales potential for solar pumps within this segment, supported by secondary data and reasonable assumptions.

Data Compilation & Analysis
1. Collect, validate, and structure data from government portals, industry reports, and credible secondary sources.
2. Develop comparative tables, summary datasets, and analytical notes to support strategic decision-making.
3. Highlight key opportunity states and crop segments based on policy gaps and market demand.

Reporting & Knowledge Management
1. Prepare concise research briefs, tables, and presentations for internal stakeholders.
2. Document data sources, assumptions, and limitations to ensure transparency and future reuse.

Qualifications:
Education & Coursework
1. Undergraduate or postgraduate student in Public Policy, Economics, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, Environmental Studies, Engineering, Management, or a related discipline.
2. Coursework or demonstrated interest in energy policy, agriculture, climate, or infrastructure markets preferred.

Research & Analytical Skills
1. Strong secondary research capabilities, including use of government portals, scheme dashboards, and policy documents.
2. Ability to compile, clean, and analyze datasets from multiple sources and identify gaps, trends, and inconsistencies.
3. Comfort with quantitative and qualitative analysis, including target–achievement comparisons and market sizing logic.
4. High attention to detail, especially in state-wise data tracking and validation.

Tools
1. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets (pivot tables, basic formulas, structured datasets).
2. Working knowledge of PowerPoint / Google Slides for preparing concise research outputs.
3. Ability to navigate and extract data from government dashboards, PDFs, and online databases.
4. Familiarity with basic data visualisation or tools

Preferred knowledge
1. Basic understanding of irrigation systems, solar pumps, plantation crops, or agri-energy value chains.
2. Exposure to market research related to agriculture, energy, or rural infrastructure is an advantage.
3. Policy review experience

Time Commitment: 30 hours / week