SONAL SHARMA
PhD Scholar
Bhopal
Summary
Strong foundation in subdomains of economics with a UGC NET certification. Leveraging experience in teaching, research, documentation, project monitoring and evaluation with proficiency at using STATA, MS Office and Google workspace along with spreadsheets and presentations. Driven by a passion for positive change and commitment to making meaningful contributions to societal advancement and growth.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
2
2
Languages
Work History
Honorary Faculty
Institute for Excellence in Higher Education (IEHE)
07.2024 - 08.2024
- Communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations, modeling appropriate conduct, and consistently enforcing established rules and consequences.
- Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering a supportive learning environment.
- Maintained accurate records of student progress, attendance, and behavior to facilitate ongoing communication with parents about their child''s educational journey.
Research Associate (CM Fellow, Shivpuri)
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis (AIGGPA), Bhopal, Government of Madhya Pradesh
01.2022 - 05.2022
- Conducted quantitative and qualitative research on the following schemes of the Government of India and Government of Madhya Pradesh in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh:
- POSHAN Abhiyan 2.0 Scheme was analysed involving a sample size of 175. The key challenges were severe iron deficiency among children in the Pohri Block, lack of infrastructure in Aanganwadi Centers (AWCs), over burdened AWCs with registration of as many as 400 beneficiaries in a single AWC and inadequate sanitation practices in tribal AWCs. Recommendations like construction of convenient approach road to AWCs, construction of kitchen garden and bathing space in AWC premises and celebration of bathing day in Tribal AWCs were given.
- Under Lok Seva Kendra (LSK) Public Service Delivery Guarantee Scheme, a sample of 90 beneficiaries and 9 LSK managers each from 9 tehsils of Shivpuri was collected. Challenges like far-off location of LSK buildings, improper approach road, under-representation of female staff and lack of greenery in and around the LSK premises were noted. Recommendations like creation of audio-video jingles about application process in local language, creation of digital repository of applicants and inclusion of female staff in LSK offices were given.
- For CM Rural Street Vendor Scheme, primary survey of 40 beneficiaries was taken along with consultations with NRLM staff, Lead Bank Manager, and banks like Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank and Punjab National Bank. It was suggested to impart skills and training to the street vendors after disbursement of loans to them.
- Worked with District Collector and Zilla Panchayat CEO of Shivpuri:
- Local issues across the district were assessed which included inadequate drainage system, poor infrastructure in Aanganwadi Centers (AWCs), unhygienic surroundings around AWCs, poorly maintained and uncemented roads, and late night loud music, among others.
- Helped in clearing the pending applications of loans to beneficiaries of PM Aawas Yojana (PMAY).
- For review of POSHAN Abhiyan 2.0 Scheme, evaluation and monitoring framework was put into place to assess the nutritional aspects of pregnant and lactating women, and children in the age group of 0-6 years.
- Facilitated in the interviews and selection of ‘CM Jan Seva Mitra’ in Shivpuri, as a part of the Government of MP’s Scheme for youth internship.
Project Coordinator
Shashi Kunj Jan Kalyan Samiti NGO
08.2018 - 01.2021
- Initiated steps towards creating awareness about environmental conservation practices with the help of:
- Awareness campaigns
- Events emphasizing use of alternates to single use plastic and importance of waste segregation at source
- Tree plantation drives
- Rallies, Slogans and Nukkad Nataks
- Had the opportunity to present the case of Solid Waste Management with Mr, Sajjan Singh Verma (Former Minister, Department of Housing and Environment).
- Took sessions on significance of environment conservation for class 6th, 7th and 8th students of Saviour Convent Higher Secondary School, Bhopal.
- Initiated planning and organization of voluntary activities like collection of waste and segregation at source in the urban places of Bhopal city.
Academic Executive
Ecoholics Ed Tech Private Limited
01.2020 - 07.2020
- Prepared reading material for students appearing for competitive exams like UPSC Civil Services Exam, Indian Economic Service (IES) and UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) Exam on the subjects like:
- Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Economics, Growth and Development, Public Finance, History of Economic Thought, Econometrics, Indian Economy.
- Lead the team of 10 subject matter specialists in preparation of the reading material.
- Worked collaboratively with colleagues, contributed to departmental initiatives like writing scripts for the ‘Thinking Tree, a talk show on Economic’s initiative.
Student Intern
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) State Office
05.2018 - 07.2018
- Prepared the chapter on Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) for ‘SDG Vision 2030 Document’, State Planning Commission, Madhya Pradesh.
- Collected data/ information from departments of like: PHE (Jal Bhawan), Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI), Department of Water Resources (Jal Sansadhan Bhawan), Department of Agriculture, Department of Urban Administration, Swachh Bharat Rural and Urban, and Bhopal Municipal Corporation.
- Assisted in preparing indicators on the criteria of ‘Safe Cities’ for the ‘Seven Smart Cities of Madhya Pradesh’.
- Contributed towards drafting of the technical and financial proposal of ‘Integrated Tribal Development Project in Nalcha Block of Dhar District’.
- Various departments like NRLM, Horticulture, and Education, etc were visited for data collection and information.
- Associated with various meetings of UNDP like: Weekly meetings of UNDP Staff in Bhopal, Video Conferences with Country Office, ‘Safe Cities Project’ discussion with Assistant Director General of Police, meeting with the Collector of Dhar for discussion on the Tribal Development Project.
Education
Ph.D. - Economics
Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology
Bhopal, India 04.2001 -
MA - Economics
Institute for Excellence in Higher Education, Barkatullah University
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh01.2021
BA - Honours Economics
Jagran Lakecity University
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh01.2019
12th Grade - School - Bhopal
Delhi Public School
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh01.2016
10th Grade - School - Shivpuri
Happy Days School
Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh01.2014
Skills
Proficiency in research methodologies, data analysis, policy analysis and documentation
Certification
UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) Subject: Economics / Rural Economics / Co-operation / Demography / Development Planning/Development Studies / Econometrics / Applied Economics / Development Economics / Business Economics Qualified 2021 cycle
References
Rakesh Malhotra (Retd.) Asst. GM NABARD (Retd.) Former MP State Head, UNDP
rak.malhotra@outlook.com
Manoj Kumar Jain, Senior Advisor, AIGGPA, Bhopal
manoj.jain@mp.gov.in
Chinmay Saxena, Former Consultant, AIGGPA, Bhopal
chinmaysaxena01@gmail.com
Dr. Mahipal Singh Yadav, Professor, IEHE, Bhopal
mahipalhj@gmail.com
Accomplishments
- Conference Paper titled 'Impact of Institutional Quality on Green Innovation: An Empirical Analysis' at Indian Institute of Social Science Research (IISER) Bhopal in 2025
- Second prize for research proposal/synopsis presented at Madhya Pradesh PhD Colloquium on the theme Sustainable Urbanization and Technology at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis (AIGGPA) Bhopal in 2025
- First rank- Online All India Economics Quiz Competition by Ecoholics Ed Tech Pvt Ltd in 2020
- Organized ‘Treasure Hunt Annual Event’ at Institute for Excellence in Higher Education, Bhopal in 2019
- Participated in Essay Writing Competition on ‘Importance of Constitution Day’ by Barkatullah University in 2019
- Group Certificate for Climate Awareness by Jaago Bharat in 2019
- Participated in ‘Swachhta Survekshan and Twin Bin Initiative’ by Bhopal Municipal Corporation in 2019
- First rank- ‘Intra University Debate Competition on Farm loan wavers: A Necessity or a Populist Stunt’ by Jagran Lakecity University (JLU) in 2019
- Participated in Debate Competition on Union Budget by JLU in 2019
- Participated in Symposium ‘Six Billion but One Bronze’ at IHEE, Bhopal in 2017
- Elected as the ‘School House Vice Captain’ in 2014
EXTRA CURRICULUM
3-D Mural Art 5 days Workshop, April 2016 Abhivyakti center of fine and performing arts Vocal Music 9 days Workshop, June 2016 Abhivyakti center of fine and performing arts Scout and Guide Camps, Happy Days School Reading and writing on economy, society, polity and environment Painting and Drawing Cooking different cuisines
Publications
- ‘We are courageous like our Soldiers at the Border’, Subah Savera Newspaper, 15 November 2021, Bhopal, M.P.
- ‘Policy Paralysis during the Northern MP Floods’, Gwalior Haalkat Newspaper, 19 August 2021, Gwalior, M.P.
- ‘How to enhance cleanliness in Bhopal’, Haribhomi Newspaper, January 2020, Bhopal, M.P.
- ‘Illegal Colonization and Manual Scavenging’, Nirmal Vaarta Magazine, Bhopal
- ‘The Dream of a Manual Scavenger’, Amazon e-book (Kindle edition), 13 December 2019 ASIN : B082R4NLTL
Training
- ‘Training Program on Monitoring and Evaluation’, DMEO, NITI Aayog, New Delhi | April 2022 Key speakers: Shri Amitabh Kant, Dr.Yogesh Guru, Dr. Prem Singh
- 102nd Annual Conference, Indian Economic Association, Raipur | Dec 2020
- ‘Workshop on Data Analysis in SPSS Software’ Research Cell, Jagran Lakecity University | April 2019
COURSES
- GIAN Course Certification in course entitled Empirical Methods in Policy Evaluation by Prof. Kaushik Chaudhari, University of Leeds, UK | Jul 2025
- NPTEL Workshop Certification on Patents: Economic, Legal and Strategic Management Perspectives by Prof. Ruchi Sharma, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore | Mar 2025
- WIPO Academy Certificate for General Course on Intellectual Property | Sep 2024 - Nov 2024
- Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, Harvard Business School | Apr 2020 - Aug 2020 Grade A
- Research Methodology in Economics Indian Economic Association | Aug 2020 - Sep 2020 Grade A
Timeline
Honorary Faculty
Institute for Excellence in Higher Education (IEHE)
07.2024 - 08.2024
Research Associate (CM Fellow, Shivpuri)
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis (AIGGPA), Bhopal, Government of Madhya Pradesh
01.2022 - 05.2022
Academic Executive
Ecoholics Ed Tech Private Limited
01.2020 - 07.2020
Project Coordinator
Shashi Kunj Jan Kalyan Samiti NGO
08.2018 - 01.2021
Student Intern
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) State Office
05.2018 - 07.2018
Ph.D. - Economics
Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology
04.2001 -
BA - Honours Economics
Jagran Lakecity University
12th Grade - School - Bhopal
Delhi Public School
10th Grade - School - Shivpuri
Happy Days School
MA - Economics
Institute for Excellence in Higher Education, Barkatullah University
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