Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal is a global policy leader, economist, and development strategist and currently holds the position of Global Executive Director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal is known to have been an advocate of evidence-based policymaking in an attempt to control poverty and inequality, and has impacted the lives of millions of people all over the world in terms of their public policy and program delivery. Having scored the highest in the most competitive civil service exam in India, to defining global approaches to anti-poverty efforts, his career is an example of how knowledge, statistics, and inclusive leadership can lead to a quantifiable impact.
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Early Life and Education
Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal was born in 1972 in Bengaluru (now Bangalore) to a family that upheld discipline, service, and education as very important. His father worked with the Border Security Force in India, and his mother was responsible for handling a local school. He studied at the Mother’s International School in Delhi and was head boy, academic, and a great leader.
He completed his BA in Economics at the University of Delhi, after which he did an MA in Economics at the Delhi School of Economics. His academic achievement gave him an opportunity to join the MPA in International Development at Princeton University, and he was assisted through the Dean Fellowship. Syskool adds that Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal also had gold medals in academic excellence.
From IAS Topper to Policy Innovator
Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal was the topper of the Indian Civil Services Examination 1996 at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration and won the Director’s Gold Medal. He was an IAS officer who worked in major positions in Tamil Nadu, as a Deputy Secretary, Director of a welfare department, and as CEO of a state enterprise. His portfolio involved the execution of development plans, the introduction of new innovative models of delivering public services, and the enhancement of social security arrangements.
His career as an Indian Administrative Services officer was anchored in governance and policy formulation skills that would later grow further back in the international arena.
Transition to Global Research Leadership
Five years into the IAS, Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal went to the US, where he worked in economic consulting in Boston and joined J-PAL at MIT in 2009 as the founding Director of Policy and Communications. His contribution was critical in linking stringent academic research with real-life policy making, a gap that has always been at the heart of J-PAL.
Community Jameel further reports that he was subsequently appointed Deputy Executive Director, and today he is the Global Executive Director, in charge of operations on different continents, partnerships, and initiatives in such crucial areas as climate change, AI in social programmes, and health care delivery.
Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal: Career Milestones and Achievements
Scaling Evidence-Based Policy: J-PAL has grown under his leadership, with its programs touching over 850 million lives all over the world through scaling interventions that have been demonstrated to be effective through randomized evaluations.
Partnership-Building: Co-chairs the Innovation in Government Initiative and Partnership for AI Evidence, which connects governments, NGOs, and academic researchers to collaborate.
Sectoral Impact: Advised J-PAL to enter new policy domains, including climate action, AI for social good, and digital governance.
Advisory Roles: Member of boards and councils such as Noora Health, Rocket Learning, and the Sustainability Council, Unilever.
Recognition: He was honored with the Guru Nanak Devji Achievers Award by the Punjab government as an achiever in the field of public service and economics.
Global Impact and Influence
The work by Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal is both academic and policy-practical. He has worked with governments in India, Africa, and Latin America to incorporate research into the design of programs so that social policies are not only cost-effective but also impactful (Article in Ideas for India).
His work at J-PAL during the COVID-19 pandemic was used to inform national strategies of economic recovery and contribute to digital learning innovations to keep education going. His policy involvement has impacted change in the delivery of health care, education funding, and social protection across the world.
Personal Life
The Better India states that Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal is married to Gita Gopinath, First Deputy Managing Director at the International Monetary Fund and former Chief Economist. They reside in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with their son, and balance family life with their powerful international careers.
Awards and Honours
Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal has been appreciated in his career as a child of intellectual rigor and public service impact. Besides the Guru Nanak Devji Achievers Award, he has been awarded numerous academic awards and invited to speak on various influential platforms, such as the RSS Eyes on Development Podcast and LIDJI Global Leadership features.
Legacy and Vision
Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal is an example of the contemporary global leader possessing a mixture of economics, governance, and humanitarian vision. His work demonstrates the strength of an evidence-based policy that high-quality public programs can change thousands of lives when they are based on data and systematic assessment. His current work at J-PAL still shapes the future of anti-poverty interventions, sustainability, and equitable development.
A Lifelong Commitment to Impact
From being an IAS topper in Tamil Nadu to being the Global Executive Director of J-PAL, Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal has proven that good leadership, when grounded in evidence and empathy, can inspire change in the lives of millions of people. His work only serves to confirm that the change that occurs is due to the integration of research and policy, and never forgetting the human aspect behind the numbers.
It is an honour to have Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal because this person has enhanced policies and transformed the lives of many vulnerable people in the world through evidence-based visionary leadership.
FAQs
Who is Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal?
Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal is the Global Executive Director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at MIT and a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, who has been an advocate of evidence-based policy to alleviate poverty in the developing world.
Why is Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal well-known internationally?
Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal is well-known internationally for leading global research and policy initiatives at J-PAL, working with governments and organizations to design and implement programs that have improved the lives of millions of people.
What was Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal’s career before joining J-PAL?
Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal was an IAS officer in Tamil Nadu, India, where he had important administrative roles and pioneered novel social welfare and development initiatives before joining J-PAL.
