Deepa Ahluwalia is the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) focal point at the ADB India Resident Mission. She is involved in the coordination, management, and operations of projects and programs for effective implementation of gender/GESI mainstreaming strategies in ADB operations in India for accelerating progress in gender equality. She has an MPhil and PhD in social sciences from the Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She has more than 23 years of professional experience in evidence-based research; program design and implementation with a focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment, social inclusion, and public policy. Prior to working with ADB, she has worked with the Ministry of Women and Child, Government of India; State Governments; International Organizations; Private sector as well as Grassroot level organizations.