The course State, Social Sector and Politics in India aims to enable students to understand and analyse issues that arise in the social sector and how the Indian state responds to them. The course highlights the dynamic profile of the social sector and the state level policy interventions. It looks at the needs, demands and organised efforts of people in rural and urban areas towards a more meaningful and fulfilling existence. It focuses on ‘informality’ and livelihoods that the social sector is faced with. The course equips students to understand the measures taken by the Indian state, whether policy oriented, coercive or apathetic, to handle these needs and demands. The course also highlights the collaborations between Indian civil society and the state to take up issues of empowerment and entitlement of marginal sections.