Public policy formulation is a systematic and dynamic process through which governments identify public problems, determine priorities, evaluate alternatives, and adopt suitable courses of action to achieve societal objectives. It is not merely a technical exercise but also a political process involving multiple stakeholders, institutions, and competing interests. In India, public policy formulation reflects the constitutional framework, democratic values, federal structure, administrative machinery, judicial interventions, economic realities, and citizen participation. The process is continuous and iterative, as policies evolve in response to changing social, economic, technological, and political conditions. The formulation of public policy begins with the identification of a public problem. A problem becomes a public policy issue when it affects a significant section of society and requires governmental intervention. Problems may emerge due to social inequalities, economic crises, environmental degradation, public health emergencies, unemployment, or governance failures. Public problems are identified through public demands, media reports, civil society organizations, pressure groups, legislative debates, judicial observations, administrative reports, expert studies, and statistical indicators. In India, institutions such as NITI Aayog, the National Statistical Office, and various commissions contribute to identifying policy issues through research and evidence-based analysis. The next stage is agenda setting. Since governments have limited resources and administrative capacity, every issue cannot receive immediate attention. Agenda setting involves selecting issues that deserve governmental priority. Political leaders, bureaucrats, legislators, media, interest groups, social movements, and public opinion play significant roles in determining the policy agenda. Election manifestos often influence the priorities of governments. For example, issues such as digital governance, financial inclusion, sanitation, healthcare, employment generation, and climate resilience have gained prominence because of political commitments and public expectations. Once an issue is placed on the governmental agenda, policy analysis and problem definition are undertaken. This stage seeks to understand the nature, causes, dimensions, and consequences of the problem. Accurate diagnosis is essential because ineffective problem definition often leads to inappropriate policy solutions. Ministries collect data, conduct field studies, consult experts, and examine national and international experiences. Policy analysts assess demographic trends, economic costs, social impacts, institutional constraints, and legal implications. In India, ministries frequently seek inputs from specialized research institutions, universities, think tanks, and professional bodies before developing policy proposals. The formulation of policy objectives follows problem analysis. Objectives define what the government intends to achieve through the proposed policy. They should be specific, realistic, measurable, and consistent with constitutional values and developmental priorities. Public policy objectives generally include economic growth, social justice, administrative efficiency, environmental sustainability, national security, poverty reduction, employment generation, and inclusive development. Clearly defined objectives provide direction to policy design and facilitate future monitoring and evaluation. The generation of policy alternatives is