Qualification

·         PhD, Development Economics (2018), IIT Bombay; (PhD Thesis on “Agrarian Crisis and Farmers’ Suicide in India”. In the Doctoral research, the emphasis is on identifying the reasons for suicide and examining the role of Financial Capability).

·         Rural Management (PGDRM), IRMA (2005);

·         Associate-Insurance Institute of India, Mumbai (2010)

·         Certified Trainer in Design of Training and Direct Training Skill, by Thames Valley University, UK & Department of Personnel & Training, GOI (2009)

Experience

·         Associate Professor at NIA (2026 onwards)

·         Assistant Professor at NIA (2019 -2026)

·         Lecturer at NIA (2007-2019)

·         Sr. Project Consultant, Department of Tribal Development, Govt. of Gujarat (2007)

·         Project Unit Head, Aga Khan Foundation (AKRSPI)(2005-2007)

Brief Profile

Archana has twenty-one years of experience in training, teaching, research and consultancy in Self Leadership, Organisational Behaviour, Development Insurance, Inclusive Finance.

Archana has been Member of the Advisory Committees Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India. She works closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, GoI, on development and delivery of training program for PMFBY scheme.

She brings with her teaching and training experience of 3500 hours. She is invited by organisations like UNDP, IRMA(TSU), NIESBUD, NIRD & PR, UIIC and LIC of India as a lead facilitator. She was empanelled as a National Resource Person with the National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY – NRLM), Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India. She was also invited to the recruitment panel of public sector insurance company.

She consulted Ernst and Young on a project by FCDO, UK Govt for ‘Development of Financial Sector in India’ as a ‘Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI)’ expert. She has also worked on a number of consulting projects for State Governments (funded by the World Bank), Insurance and Insurtech companies.

She has published and presented more three dozen papers and reports in national and international refereed journals, seminars, and conferences. She is invited as a Chief Guest and panel speaker in several National and International Seminars on Agriculture Insurance and Inclusive Finance.

Before joining NIA Archana worked for two years as a project manager with AKRSP(I) on the implementation of rural development projects by the European Commission, NABARD, and Central and State Governments. She also worked briefly as a Senior Project Consultant with the Tribal Development Department, Government of Gujarat.

She has a PhD in Development Economics from the Economics Department of IIT Bombay. She is a PGDRM from the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), and an Associate Member of the Insurance Institute of India, Mumbai. She is also a certified trainer from Thames Valley & DOPT, Govt. of India. 

Archana is passionate about research in development insurance, engages on concepts like Self-Leadership, Non-Violent Communication and Hypnotherapy. She likes to spend her free time reading, gardening, amateur theatre and reducing her carbon footprint.

Her career journey as an emerging leader is featured in the book “Alchemy of Women -Shaping She Tomorrow”, authored by Priya Vasudevan and Dr Puneet Kaur Kohli.

She can be reached out at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., M- 9422320250.