Dr. Nirmal Sengupta is currently working as Professor at Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research. Earlier, he was Director of Madras Institute of Development Studies. Educated at the Indian Statistical Institute (M. Stat., Ph. D.), his areas of interests are Economics of Institutions, Law and economics, International Trade and Water Resources. He has also worked in various capacities at the Bihar State Planning Board, Union Ministry of Commerce and Industries, National Institute of Rural Development, Institute of Philippine Culture, Indiana University, FAO, UNDP, Netherlands Minister for Development Cooperation, World Commission on Dams.