Patna, 19th September 2025: The doctoral thesis defence for the award of Fellow in Management ( phd programme) of Mr. Nitish Nigam was successfully held today at Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP). The seminar was graced by Prof. Gopal K. Sarangi, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Policy and Management Studies at TERI School of Advanced Studies, who served as the external examiner. The event was graced by CIMP Director Prof. (Dr.) Rana Singh, along with esteemed members of the thesis advisory committee, Prof. Sibananda Senapati, Prof. Debabrata Samanta, and Prof. Ankit Sharma, and several faculty colleagues.

Mr. Nigam’s thesis, titled “Understanding Consumer Behaviour: A Study on Electric Vehicle Adoption in India”, offers a rigorous and data-driven analysis of the economic, behavioural, and infrastructural factors shaping EV adoption, with a special focus on Bihar. The study uses advanced econometric techniques to reveal that charging infrastructure is the most influential factor in driving EV uptake. The study found that the policy has significantly impacted the EV market in India. Consumers in Bihar are willing to pay an additional ₹17,300 for each new charging station, underscoring the urgency of expanding accessible and visible charging networks across the state.

The research also finds that while carbon emissions do not significantly influence consumer decisions, the impact of air pollution on personal health is a powerful motivator. This suggests that framing EV benefits around immediate health outcomes rather than distant climate goals may be more effective in encouraging adoption. Interestingly, consumers in Bihar are also willing to pay a premium for EVs.