General manager
Ranajit Bhattacharyya
General Manager & Communications Head
Ranajit Bhattacharyya
General Manager & Communications Head
Communications Unit
Ranajit Bhattacharyya has been with Pratham since 2003. He has been associated with ASER since its beginning in 2005. He was part of the team that launched ASER in West Bengal and the North-East. Subsequently, Ranajit was instrumental in starting the Pratham chapter of West Bengal in 2007, with the launch of Read India, Pratham’s flagship programme, with the district administration in Sandeshkhali Block of North 24 Parganas, which was subsequently adopted by the district administration to cover the whole district. He currently works as the General Manager and Head of Communications Unit of ASER Centre and has been involved with several research projects of ASER Centre as well. Post C19 he spends more time in West Bengal supporting the Pratham team, in a mentor’s role. Till recently he was the Hub Manager of PAL Network South Asia. PAL Network is an association of organisations that conduct Citizen Led Assessment (CLA) across 3 continents, and is head quartered in Nairobi, Kenya. He has special interest in Sports and Water & Sanitation and contributes intermittently about these issues, in the digital media.
Survey unit
Akansha Bandooni
Research Associate
Akansha Bandooni
Research Associate
Survey Unit
Akansha is a psychology post-graduate. Prior to ASER, she worked with the premier think tank NITI Aayog for almost 2 years in the Communication and Social Media Cell. Her keen interest in the research and developmental sector encouraged her to join ASER. Apart from that, she loves gardening and feeding stray cats and dogs.
Disha Trivedi
Senior Research Associate
Disha Trivedi
Senior Research Associate
Survey Unit
Disha studied Economics from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University. She is interested in using primary research methods to explore the intersections of various development issues. Travelling and gathering field experiences are her favourite part of ASER. In her free time, she enjoys painting, cooking, and poetry.
Lakshita Joshi
Senior Research Associate
Lakshita Joshi
Senior Research Associate
Survey Unit
Lakshita graduated with a degree in Economics from NMIMS University, Mumbai. It was her keen interest in development research and social sector interventions that led her to first intern with Pratham Institute and then take up the role of Research Associate at ASER Centre. Lakshita likes to spend her downtime playing musical instruments and worshipping pop divas.
Muskan Thakral
Research Associate
Muskan Thakral
Research Associate
Survey Unit
Muskan is a physics graduate from Delhi University. To slake her thirst for societal contribution, she joined the SBI Youth For India Fellowship, where she worked with Gram Vikas NGO (in Odisha) to empower rural communities in domains like agriculture, health and hygiene via community awareness. Her inclination towards the research and development sector encouraged her to join ASER. In her free time, Muskan likes to indulge in poetry, painting, dancing and curating animated videos.
Nikhil A
Research Associate
Nikhil A
Research Associate
Survey Unit
Nikhil has shifted to the non-profit sector after working in Corporate R&D for one and half years. He completed his graduation in physics, and likes to explore new places, meet new people and loves to work in an environment surrounded by people rather than machines. ASER is his portal to know more about the ground reality of this country.
Shweta Bhutada
Unit Head
Shweta Bhutada
Unit Head
Survey Unit
Shweta graduated with a degree in journalism from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai and then studied International Development at Sciences Po. After a brief stint in journalism, her enthusiasm to understand the world first-hand brought her to ASER Centre, where she is now working with the Survey Unit. In her free time she loves binging on music and exploring cities.
Vishal Prasad
Research Associate
Vishal Prasad
Research Associate
Survey Unit
Vishal is a post graduate in Economics. He did his Bachelors from Jamia Millia Islamia and Masters from IGNOU. He has previously worked as Project Assistant and Research Associate. His desire to understand development sector and gain first hand experience of field has brought him to ASER.
Research and statistics unit
Deepak Kumar
Senior Research Associate
Deepak Kumar
Senior Research Associate
Research and Statistics Unit
Dr Deepak Kumar is a Senior Research Associate at the Research and Statistics unit. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics with a specialization in education from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He is an applied micro-economist, focusing on policy questions related to education and health. Dr Kumar was previously associated with the REAL Centre, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, UK. His research interest in children’s education and learning led him to join ASER Centre with a strong desire to actively engage in grassroots research. Dr Kumar is also an avid mountain lover and enjoys cycling and trekking in his free time.
Devleena Chatterji
Senior Research Associate
Devleena Chatterji
Senior Research Associate
Research and Statistics Unit
Devleena is a Senior Research Associate at the Research and Statistics Unit at ASER Centre. She holds a PhD from University of Minnesota in Comparative and International Development and Education, with a background rooted in Sociology. She takes keen interest in qualitative research methods at the intersection of gender and education. While field and local travel consume a large part of her time, Devleena is a home-body who loves to spend time surrounded by her family, dogs, books, music and kitchen experiments.
Karishma Vats
Senior Research Associate
Karishma Vats
Senior Research Associate
Research and Statistics Unit
Karishma is a Public Health Professional and most of her work has revolved around the underplaying factors for poor development of children and women. In the past decade, she has been part of a few research studies around nutrition and health for children, adolescents and women. Her engagement with the Research Unit has broadened the horizon for to work on other relevant themes. She likes spending time alone with books and music, but being a mother of two, allows less time for that. Apart from it, she enjoys travelling, making friends, talking to people, trying out different cuisines and being around nature.
Assessment unit
Anil Kamath
Senior Research Associate
Anil Kamath
Senior Research Associate
Assessment Unit
Anil Kamath is working as Senior Research Associate with Assessment Unit of ASER Centre. He has been working in the socio-development sector from last 16 years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s degree in Social Work. He is a certified professional by national and international universities/organizations in the field of “Learning and Large scale Assessment, Measurement and Survey design, Language learning and development in the early childhood, Multilingual Practices, Data literacy and Research”. Currently, he is managing the language assessments for national and international assessments, as well as heading some major internal and external evaluation projects. His hobbies and interests include studying philosophy (metaphysics and epistemology), learning different languages, traveling and photography.
Anwesha Mahapatra
Language Assessment Associate
Anwesha Mahapatra
Language Assessment Associate
Assessment Unit
Anwesha has completed her Masters in Linguistics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi in 2020. Her research interests are L2 Assessment, Multilingualism and Language Policy. She has previously worked on research projects regarding Social Cognition, Experimental Pragmatics and Impact Assessment. She is currently working as a Language Assessment Associate at ASER. Beyond work, she likes to tend to her garden and read fiction.
Madhumati Manjunath
Senior Research Associate
Madhumati Manjunath
Senior Research Associate
Assessment Unit
Madhumati Manjunath is a Senior Research Associate at ASER Centre. Her main interests include educational assessment and measurement. Her day-to-day work involves developing tools and analyzing data from educational assessments. She completed her MA in Education from Azim Premji University in 2021. In her spare time, she likes reading, watching movies, and doing DIY craft projects.
Nisha Mondal
Research Associate
Nisha Mondal
Research Associate
Assessment Unit
Nisha is a postgraduate in Economics, having earned her bachelor’s degree from Delhi University and her master’s from the Madras School of Economics. She prepared for the Civil Services Exam, which ignited a special interest in the social sector, particularly in education and women’s sector. Her desire is to gain firsthand experience in the field and contribute to impactful interventions. Besides, Nisha is an animal lover who always tries to connect with animals in her free time. She also loves to sing!
Sadiya Farooq
Research Associate
Sadiya Farooq
Research Associate
Assessment Unit
Sadiya completed her Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Centre Management and Entrepreneurship from Ambedkar University Delhi in 2020. Her passion for working with and for children grew stronger during her graduation period. She is currently working as a Research Associate with the Assessment Unit at the ASER Centre. She is also interested in graphic design. In her leisure time, she loves to travel and spend time in nature.
Sudipto Kar
Unit Head
Sudipto Kar
Unit Head
Assessment Unit
Sudipto Kar is a Senior Researcher and an experienced Assessment Specialist with more than 8 years of experience in the field of education measurements. He holds a degree in Computer Application from Delhi University. While his journey began with overseeing Math assessments in the Unit, he currently oversees both National and International Assessment programs with a focus on digital learning, adaptive testing designs, and impact evaluations. In his free time, Sudipto enjoys exploring new places, reconnecting with old friends, and indulging in local cuisine.
Surabhi Ghosh
Research Associate
Surabhi Ghosh
Research Associate
Assessment Unit
Surabhi is a post graduate in Biomedical Science from the University of Delhi. She has a keen interest in educational research. Prior to ASER, she worked in science education at NCERT. She is currently developing assessments for maths and science. Surabhi enjoys traveling to new places, learning about the lifestyle of locals and trying new cuisines. She loves singing and interacting with people.
Vikram Prateek Guria
Unit Head
Vikram Prateek Guria
Unit Head
Assessment Unit
Vikram leads the Assessment Unit at ASER Centre. He studied engineering and started as a software engineer. Gradually he moved into EdTech sector and later focusing on educational measurement for more than a decade. His interest areas are game based assessments and ethnomathematics. Apart from work areas, he explores world music and cinema. Currently, he is learning football tactical analysis and hopes to sometime meet José Mourinho.
Design unit
Aamir Khan
Graphic Designer
Aamir Khan
Graphic Designer
Material Design
Graphic Designer at ASER Centre, Aamir Khan graduated with BA. Programme from Delhi University, he also has a Diploma in fashion design from JD Institute of FT. He has been working at ASER for eight years. Aamir takes keen interest in fashion and the arts, and in his spare time he designs and sews miniature outfits for dolls.
Imtiyaz Ahmed
Graphic Designer
Imtiyaz Ahmed
Graphic Designer
Material Design
Graphic Designer of ASER Centre, Md. Imtiyaz Ahmad has been working in the Design Unit at ASER Centre for thirteen years. He holds a Bachelors in Sociology from L.N.M University Darbhanga. He is passionate about Cricket, Football and Hockey and enjoys reading novels in his spare time.
Saleem Miyan
System Administrator
Saleem Miyan
System Administrator
Data Entry Coordinator And Material Production
Saleem Miyan is a System Administrator and Graphics Designer and has been working with Pratham for over 22 years. At ASER, he has also been actively involved in survey management, developing survey tools, data entry management and report publishing. Saleem is a graduate from Delhi University. He likes playing cricket and takes a keen interest in politics.
Communications unit
Akanksha Bisht
Content & Research Associate
Akanksha Bisht
Content & Research Associate
Content & Research
Akanksha has studied from Indraprastha College for Women and Ambedkar University Delhi. She is an aspiring development professional interested in the field of education and gender. She is also a freelance writer and editor. In her free time, she enjoys books, crafts, visual arts, and crochet.
Ranajit Bhattacharyya
General Manager & Communications Head
Ranajit Bhattacharyya
General Manager & Communications Head
Communications Unit
Ranajit Bhattacharyya has been with Pratham since 2003. He has been associated with ASER since its beginning in 2005. He was part of the team that launched ASER in West Bengal and the North-East. Subsequently, Ranajit was instrumental in starting the Pratham chapter of West Bengal in 2007, with the launch of Read India, Pratham’s flagship programme, with the district administration in Sandeshkhali Block of North 24 Parganas, which was subsequently adopted by the district administration to cover the whole district. He currently works as the General Manager and Head of Communications Unit of ASER Centre and has been involved with several research projects of ASER Centre as well. Post C19 he spends more time in West Bengal supporting the Pratham team, in a mentor’s role. Till recently he was the Hub Manager of PAL Network South Asia. PAL Network is an association of organisations that conduct Citizen Led Assessment (CLA) across 3 continents, and is head quartered in Nairobi, Kenya. He has special interest in Sports and Water & Sanitation and contributes intermittently about these issues, in the digital media.
Uttara Rana
Communications Associate
Uttara Rana
Communications Associate
Communication Unit
She is a young communication professional who aspires to become a storyteller. Before this, She was interning with UNDP where she helped in building communication plans for SDG awareness and localization in Uttarakhand. With a Master’s degree focused on Advertising and Public Relations, she is also equipped with skills like creative problem-solving, advertising, and Brand communication. In her extra time, she indulges herself in scriptwriting, filmmaking, and video editing and loves to talk about cinema, conspiracies, and the environment.
Human resources and administration unit
Nandita Banerjee
HR & Capacity Building Head
Nandita Banerjee
HR & Capacity Building Head
Human Resources & Capacity Building Unit
Nandita has been working in the non-profit sector for more than 20 years and joined ASER Centre in 2011. She has been the head of HR and the Capacity Building Unit since 2013. In her current role she manages the HR and training of ASER team members, along with managing talent acquisition, performance appraisals, employee engagement and welfare practices. She also trains members on understanding and using data, including sessions on Basic Descriptive Statistics and MS Excel. She is a part-time faculty at the Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP). She has an MBA, a Masters in Economics and a Diploma in Training and Development. In her free time, she likes to go trekking, read, travel, and play with her dogs. She practices sustainable living and regularly volunteers with NGOs working with children and for animal welfare.
