Prof Narendar Pani is an economist by training who takes a multidisciplinary approach to issues of Indian political economy. In this effort he has relied on a method derived from the writings of MK Gandhi. He has over the last three and a half decades held positions in academia and the media. His books include, ‘Inclusive economics: Gandhian method and contemporary policy’ (Sage, 2002); ‘Redefining Conservatism: An essay on the bias of India’s economic reform’ (Sage, 1994); and ‘Reforms to pre-empt change: Land legislation in Karnataka’ (Concept, 1983). He is also one of the editors of ‘Bengaluru, Bangalore, Bengaluru: Imaginations and their times’ (Sage, 2010). 

He was a member of the Task Force on Manufacturing set up by the Government of Karnataka, 2013.

He was a member of the Working Group set up by the Planning Commission, New Delhi, to review the performance of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

He was a member of the Steering Committee for the Evaluation Study on the programme of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) conducted by the Programme Evaluation Organization of the Planning Commission, New Delhi.

He was a member of the Board of Governors of the Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore from 2003 to 2009.

He was a member of the editorial advisory board of the Journal for Social and Economic Development, an academic journal brought out by the Institute for Social and Economic Change Bangalore, India from its inception till 2009.

He won the Citibank Pan Asia Journalism Award for 1992.  The award was given for writing on trade issues.  The piece that won the award was on environment as a trade barrier.