Anusha Kesarkar Gavankar

Dr. Anusha Kesarkar-Gavankar is Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation. Her research spans the maritime economy, with a focus on sustainability, infrastructure, port-led development, community resilience, connectivity, and innovation. She examines how the oceanscape shapes economic opportunities, policy frameworks, social outcomes, and environmental sustainability, linking local, national, and regional perspectives.

Anusha holds a Ph.D. in Urban Sociology and Community Studies from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and Monash University, Australia. She has published internationally and brings over two decades of experience across academia and the private sector.

• Nominated as Chairperson of the Selection Board for interview for Direct Recruitment to KVS (TGT English - May 2023)
• Monash University: Research on how Mumbai’s coastal communities are responding to urbanisation
• Co-founder of The Dhī Project for creating and curating meaningful experiences of India's varied heritage through lecture series, study tours and mindful travel.