Nikhil joined J-PAL in 2010 to work on the impact of Mother's Literacy and Participation Programs on child learning in Ajmer, Rajasthan. He holds a honors degree in International Development Studies from McGill University. Previously, he worked on a Youth Resource Centre Project with Seva Mandir in Rajasthan, and with the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh, in Leh in Ladakh. His interests include community development, educational policy, social movements and identity politics.