National Council of Applied Economic Research
NCAER is India's oldest and largest independent economic policy research think tank, conducting applied economic research, large-scale household surveys, and policy analysis for government agencies, multilateral organizations, and academic institutions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1956
- HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What National Council of Applied Economic Research does
NCAER is India's oldest and largest independent economic policy research think tank, established in 1956 and headquartered in New Delhi. The organization conducts applied economic research across eight dedicated verticals covering macroeconomic analysis, human development and data innovation, health policy, gender and macroeconomy, agriculture and trade, CGE modelling, and state-level economic analysis. Its flagship data asset is the India Human Development Survey (IHDS), a longitudinal nationally representative household survey covering over 47,000 households across three waves (2004-05, 2011-12, 2022-24), conducted jointly with the University of Maryland.
NCAER's core products include peer-reviewed journals (India Policy Forum, Margin), recurring analytical publications (Monthly Economic Review, Business Expectations Survey), policy briefs, working papers, and commissioned research studies. The technology stack is built around large-scale survey data collection and analysis platforms, with NCAER-NDIC managing proprietary survey datasets. Distribution occurs through direct commissioned contracts, public website publications, events, podcasts, and email digests.
The business model operates on commissioned research contracts and grants from government agencies, multilateral organizations (ILO, World Bank, IMF), and institutional clients, supplemented by publication sales. Customer segments are primarily central and state government ministries, international development organizations, and the academic research community. The organization is governed by a board chaired by Nandan M. Nilekani and led by Director General Suresh Goyal (effective January 2026). Revenue is not publicly disclosed, consistent with its status as a private non-profit.
National Council of Applied Economic Research firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Council of Applied Economic Research
- Legal name
- National Council of Applied Economic Research
- Website
- https://ncaer.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1956
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- NCAER is India's oldest and largest independent economic policy research think tank, conducting applied economic research, large-scale household surveys, and policy analysis for government agencies, multilateral organizations, and academic institutions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where National Council of Applied Economic Research is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Delhi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
National Council of Applied Economic Research business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Research Contracts and Grants: Commissioned research from government agencies, international organizations, and institutional clients
- Publications and Reports: Sale of research publications, reports, and policy briefs
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
National Council of Applied Economic Research product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NCAER is an independent economic policy research think tank that conducts applied economic research, large-scale household surveys, and policy analysis for government agencies, international organizations, and academic institutions. Its core deliverables include commissioned research studies, peer-reviewed journals (India Policy Forum, Margin), the Monthly Economic Review, the Business Expectations Survey, and the nationally representative India Human Development Survey (IHDS) covering over 47,000 households.
Product overview
NCAER operates as a portfolio of research verticals, surveys, and publications rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) - a major nationally representative household survey, multiple peer-reviewed journals (India Policy Forum and Margin), the Monthly Economic Review and Business Expectations Survey as recurring analytical products, and dedicated research centres covering macroeconomic analysis, health policy, gender economics, data innovation, and agricultural/trade/technology research. These verticals produce reports, working papers, policy briefs, and data products for government and academic audiences.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NCAER-National Data Innovation Centre (NDIC): A joint initiative with the University of Maryland for conducting the India Human Development Survey, collecting nationally representative data on Indian households.
- Centre for Gender and Macroeconomy
- Centre for Health Policy and Systems
- NCAER-NITI States Economic Forum
Products and services
- India Human Development Survey (IHDS)
Companies that use National Council of Applied Economic Research
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
National Council of Applied Economic Research technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
National Council of Applied Economic Research partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)coreMoU signed on June 23, 2026 to establish the NHAI Centre for Economics of Transportation, Mobility and Logistics at NCAER in New Delhi. This is India's first permanent, independent research hub dedicated to transport economics. The centre will conduct applied research on freight logistics, modal integration, toll policy, asset monetisation, and technology adoption in highway operations for a period of 10 years.
- The Quantum HubcoreJoint study on digital inclusion in India released in June 2026. The report 'The Evolving Landscape of Digital Inclusion in India' covered over 47,000 households and examined digital divides including gender gaps and device ownership disparities.
- ProsuscoreThree-year research programme on India's food delivery platform economy, including studies on GDP impact, employment, and restaurant ecosystem. Reports titled 'Impact of Food Delivery Platform on the Indian Economy' and 'Impact of Food Delivery Platforms on Restaurants' published December 2025.
- International Labour Organization (ILO)coreCo-organized roundtable on December 8, 2025 on 'Building Inclusive Economies: Gender, Financial Inclusion, and the Platform Workforce' at NCAER campus in New Delhi, bringing together government officials, RBI representatives, and platform companies.
- Micro Finance Industry Network (MFIN)coreJoint study on India's microfinance sector transformation, finding informal borrowing among microfinance customers dropped from 46% in 2011 to just 1% in 2024-25. Survey covered 10,342 borrowers across 10 Indian states.
- University of MarylandcoreLong-standing partnership for the India Human Development Survey (IHDS), conducted jointly with researchers from University of Maryland, Indiana University, and University of Michigan. IHDS-III fieldwork undertaken in 2022-24.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
National Council of Applied Economic Research competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
National Council of Applied Economic Research social profiles
Digital presenceNational Council of Applied Economic Research compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
National Council of Applied Economic Research financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Council of Applied Economic Research leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
National Council of Applied Economic Research funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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National Council of Applied Economic Research M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about National Council of Applied Economic Research
What does National Council of Applied Economic Research do?
NCAER is an independent economic policy research think tank that conducts applied economic research, large-scale household surveys, and policy analysis for government agencies, international organizations, and academic institutions. Its core deliverables include commissioned research studies, peer-reviewed journals (India Policy Forum, Margin), the Monthly Economic Review, the Business Expectations Survey, and the nationally representative India Human Development Survey (IHDS) covering over 47,000 households.
Is National Council of Applied Economic Research a public or private company?
National Council of Applied Economic Research is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was National Council of Applied Economic Research founded?
National Council of Applied Economic Research was founded in 1956. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is National Council of Applied Economic Research based?
National Council of Applied Economic Research is headquartered in New Delhi, India, in the Asia region.
How does National Council of Applied Economic Research make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Research Contracts and Grants are the primary driver. The others are publications and Reports.
Does National Council of Applied Economic Research have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Council of Applied Economic Research.