First draft
Perspectives on public policy, politics and society — usually India-centric.
Fahad Hasin
I am a researcher, blogger, and occasional editor. I am currently a Mercatus 1991 Fellow based in Kerala, India. My work focuses on economic policy reform in the state, with a particular focus on land use.
Previously, I worked at IDinsight on state capacity projects. In 2025, I received an Emergent Ventures grant to start the Kerala Growth Series. I studied political science at Ashoka University.
Newsletters
Recent work
- #43: Decoding student protests as an almost-Gen Z Wrote for First draft · Jul 2026
A meaningful win with sobering qualifications
- Designing a Summer Ice Cream for India Edited for Alter Magazine · Jun 2026
- A Non-Malayali Looks at Kerala Appeared on Nayadrishti · Jun 2026
Fahad talks about what he found different in Kerala, areas where the state has succeeded, and things that need to improve.
- What can Kerala learn from its successes? Wrote for Kerala Growth Series · Jun 2026
Things have gone well when government enabled private initiatives instead of taking over their functions
- #42: Bangalore airport is awesome! Wrote for First draft · Jun 2026
So is the Kochi airport. They are both done very tastefully.
- #41: Responding to the rise of thinking machines Wrote for First draft · Apr 2026
Do not let fear blind you
Contact
- reach@fahadhasin.com
- Newsletters
- First draft · Kerala Growth Series