Role of Public Policy in Promoting Diversity Changes in Student Body Regional Diversity Post the 2008 Changes in Admission Policy of the National Institutes of Technology, India Sachin Garg <sgarg6@masonlive.gmu.edu> The changing nature of work in the 21st Century calls for an innovative, creative and highly educated workforce. Workplace diversity and increased ed- ucation levels have been shown to be some of the drivers of innovation and cre- ativity. Studies have also shown the positive link between diversity and student achievement. A diverse student body is also positively linked to democratic functioning and institutional development, which are key to economic and all- round human development. Thus it is imperative that institutions of higher learning attract and nurture a diverse student body. This is especially true for large developing countries like India, which are essentially an amalgamation of different regional cultures with rich histories. College admission policies play a key role in shaping student body diversity. The presence of affirmative action and quotas play a "carrot and stick" role in building a diverse student body. While they ensure that students are able to move to institutions which may have been closed to them earlier, they also compel students to move away from 1