ABOUT DCAP

The Development Centre for Alternative Policies (DCAP), founded in 1987 in New Delhi, is an action research and development organization focused on environment-integrated development. 

DCAP’s mission is to reimagine and advance alternative frameworks of development, governance, and societal organization rooted in India’s biocentric traditions, where human life is intrinsically interconnected with nature. The Centre seeks to move beyond anthropocentric models shaped by dominant Western paradigms by revitalizing ethical, ecological, and culturally grounded approaches to living.

Through rigorous research and critical inquiry, DCAP identifies transformative pathways in governance and social practice that address contemporary socio- economic, political, and environmental challenges. It is committed to translating knowledge into action by bridging theory and practice through policy innovation, community engagement, and applied interventions.

DCAP advances its mission through collaborative partnerships with people, communities, institutions, and networks at local, national, and international levels, fostering inclusive, sustainable, and pluralistic futures.

Our initiatives have been supported by Government of India, State Governments, International Organizations and Foundations.

Two broad themes describe DCAP’s activities – Action Research and Environmental Initiatives.

Action Research +

DCAP engages in research that is participatory and solution-oriented, aiming to generate practical insights and knowledge that directly inform policy and practice. This approach often involves collaboration with stakeholders to co-create evidence-based strategies for addressing developmental and environmental challenges.                                                               

Environmental Initiatives +

An integrated, evidence-based approach to planning, regenerating, and restoring ecological and community systems

DCAP works to bring biocentric living into practice at every level — from local communities to institutions and government initiatives. Its efforts span across agriculture, soil regeneration, water conservation, and the treatment of solid and liquid waste, all designed to nurture a harmonious relationship between people and nature. To advance a shift towards biocentric practices and governance, DCAP integrates participatory planning and geo-spatial technologies to understand ecological and social systems, recovers degraded resources through pollution mitigation and waste-water treatment, cultivates regenerative practices in agriculture and health systems, and restores land, water bodies, and community well-being through environmentally sustainable technologies across agriculture, water resources, solid waste management, and medical science.