Dilip Kumar Mekala is a research associate leading the Future of Food programme at Transitions Research. His work focuses on food & nutrition security while exploring various regenerative agriculture movements and pastoral systems in the country. He also manages a livelihoods programme for Action-for-Autism, the National Centre for Autism in India, where he explores the intersection of disability, queerness and climate action. Prior to this, he had a six-year stint as a journalist - both in print and broadcast media - covering defence and strategic affairs.

He graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, in 2010 with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electronics and electrical communication engineering.