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May 2025
42m 39s

India's Overcrowded and Overburdened Pri...

Takshashila Institution
About this episode

This episode will take a closer look at India’s mechanism to release prisoners, particularly in light of the reality of prison overcrowding and the significant number of people in jail awaiting completion of their trials. According to a Supreme Court estimate, India has over 5.7 lakh prisoners confined in various jails across the country, of which 76% were reported as undertrial prisoners (as of December 2022).

In this context, Kripa Koshy (Programme Manager, Takshashila) is joined by Shreehari Paliath (Senior Policy Analyst and Researcher, IndiaSpend) and Leah Verghese (Research Manager, Daksh) as they unpack the challenges around Undertrial Review Committees, legal aid and cash bail schemes that were intended to ease the pressures of overcrowding in Indian prisons.


The PGP is a comprehensive 48-week hybrid programme tailored for those aiming to delve deep into the theoretical and practical aspects of public policy. This multidisciplinary course offers a broad and in-depth range of modules, ensuring students get a well-rounded learning experience. The curriculum is delivered online, punctuated with in-person workshops across India.

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All Things Policy is a daily podcast on public policy brought to you by the Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru.

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