GDA
GDA (Globe Detective Agency) is a New Delhi-headquartered private investigation and security firm, founded in 1961, providing corporate investigations, due diligence, background screening, physical guarding, electronic security systems, OSINT, and TSCM services to multinationals, HNW individuals, insurers, and government clients across 18 India offices.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1961
- HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What GDA does
Globe Detective Agency (GDA), founded in 1961 by Capt. Prem Kumar in New Delhi, is one of India's longest-operating private investigation and security firms. The company operates a 3,500+ person full-time workforce supplemented by 2,000+ security personnel in West India across 18 pan-India offices, with cross-border coverage in 60+ countries facilitated through memberships in CII, WAD, INTELLENET, ASIS International, and IMC.
GDA delivers an integrated three-pillar service portfolio: (1) private investigation — asset search and verification, background screening, due diligence (individual and corporate), pre- and post-matrimonial investigations, insurance-claims verification, IP/trademark infringement, litigation support, Open Source Intelligence (OSINT), Technical Surveillance Counter-Measures (TSCM), undercover operations, skip tracing, document verification, family dispute support, workers' comp investigations, and security audits; (2) physical security — manned guarding, industrial security audits, executive protection, examination test-material security, and canine squads; (3) electronic security systems — fire alarm, access control, CCTV, gas-based fire suppression, intrusion alarms, public address systems, integrated Building Management Systems (BMS) via Siemens and Honeywell, hydrants/sprinklers, and nurse call systems (Schrack Seconet).
Revenue is generated through three models: case-based professional-services fees for investigations, retainer/managed-services contracts for manned guarding and physical security, and hardware-plus-installation plus maintenance contracts for electronic security. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company serves multinational corporations, financial institutions, government agencies, high-net-worth individuals, legal professionals, insurance carriers, corporate executives, and facilities operators — primarily via direct enterprise sales through regional VPs and dedicated landing pages for international markets. The Kumar family maintains multi-generational leadership across Founder Capt. Prem Kumar (Chairman), Sachit Kumar (Managing Director since 1987; former CII President), Puneet Kumar (Director since 1992), Gautam Kumar (President since 2011; current CII Vice-President), and Assistant VP Priyanshi Kumar (joined 2023 from Shippo).
GDA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GDA
- Legal name
- Globe Detective Agency (P) Ltd.
- Website
- https://globedetective.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1961
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- GDA (Globe Detective Agency) is a New Delhi-headquartered private investigation and security firm, founded in 1961, providing corporate investigations, due diligence, background screening, physical guarding, electronic security systems, OSINT, and TSCM services to multinationals, HNW individuals, insurers, and government clients across 18 India offices.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GDA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Investigation and Security Services
- NAICS
- Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Third-Party Risk, Vendor Due Diligence & Supply Chain Compliance (BPAEAPAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Fraud, Waste & Abuse (FWA) Detection & SIU Support (BPAAAFAH)
Keywords
Where GDA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Delhi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices20 records
Markets served
GDA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Private Investigation Services: Project-based investigative services including asset searches, background screening, due diligence, matrimonial investigations, insurance claims investigation, litigation support, undercover operations, skip tracing, and document verification. Revenue generated through individual case fees and retainer arrangements with corporate clients.
- Physical Security Services: Manned guarding services, industrial security audits, executive protection, test material security, and canine squads. Typically contracted on retainer basis with ongoing service fees.
- Electronic Security Systems: Installation and maintenance of fire alarm systems, access control, CCTV, gas-based fire suppression, intrusion alarms, PA systems, BMS, hydrants & sprinklers, and nurse call systems. Revenue from equipment installation projects and ongoing maintenance contracts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Investigation Services - Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
GDA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GDA provides corporate and personal investigative services including asset tracing, background screening, due diligence, matrimonial investigations, insurance claims verification, litigation support, OSINT and TSCM (technical surveillance counter-measures), alongside physical security services (manned guarding, executive protection, canine squads) and electronic security systems installation (fire alarms, access control, CCTV, BMS, hydrants/sprinklers, nurse call). The firm serves multinational corporations, financial institutions, government agencies, insurers, law firms, and high-net-worth individuals across India and 60+ countries.
Product overview
GDA (Globe Detective Agency) offers an integrated suite of investigative and security services organized into three core pillars: Private Investigation Services, Physical Security Services, and Electronic Security Systems. The Private Investigation division provides comprehensive investigative capabilities including asset search and verification, background screening, due diligence for individuals and companies, matrimonial investigations, insurance claims investigation, intellectual property rights investigation, litigation support, open source intelligence (OSINT), technical surveillance counter-measures (TSCM), undercover operations, skip tracing, document verification, family dispute support, workers' comp investigations, security audits, and risk analysis. Physical Security Services include manned guarding with trained personnel, industrial security audits, executive protection, test material security for examinations, and canine squads. The Electronic Security Systems division delivers technology solutions including fire alarm systems, access control, fire safety and building solutions enhanced with AI and IoT, CCTV systems, gas-based fire suppression, intrusion alarms, public announcement systems, integrated Building Management Systems (from Siemens and Honeywell), hydrants and sprinklers, and nurse call systems. The company operates across India with 18 offices and maintains global presence in 60 countries, serving over 20,000 cases.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use GDA
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
GDA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Feature3 records
GDA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Council of International Investigators (CII)coreInternational professional association for investigators. GDA's Managing Director Sachit Kumar served as President of CII for four years. Current VP Gautam Kumar serves as Vice-President.
- World Association of Detectives (WAD)coreInternational professional organization for detectives and investigators. GDA leadership maintains active membership and participation in global forums.
- International Intelligence Network (INTELLENET)coreGlobal intelligence network enabling cross-border investigation capabilities. GDA team members maintain membership for international collaboration.
- ASIS InternationalminorGlobal organization for security professionals. Sachit Kumar holds membership, enhancing GDA's connection to global security industry standards.
- Investment Migration Council (IMC)minorProfessional body for investment migration. Membership supports GDA's expansion in due diligence and investment migration investigations.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GDA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Pinkerton: Pinkerton is a global corporate investigation, security, and intelligence firm with a comparable mix of background screening, due diligence, executive protection, and corporate fraud investigation. It is a direct category analog but operates at much larger international scale.
- HireRight: HireRight is a global technology-led background-screening provider. It competes with GDA's Background Screening and Due Diligence services, particularly for multinational clients seeking API-integrated, scalable screening.
- Kroll: Kroll provides investigations, due diligence, cyber risk, and security consulting globally. It competes with GDA in corporate fraud investigation, third-party due diligence, and asset tracing, and serves similar multinational and high-net-worth clients.
- First Advantage: First Advantage is a global background-check and identity-verification company. It overlaps with GDA's pre-employment screening and integrity-check offerings through a tech-enabled, higher-throughput model.
- Control Risks: Control Risks is a global risk consultancy offering investigations, political risk, due diligence, and security services. Comparable to GDA's corporate due diligence and security audit offerings, though at significantly larger scale.
Emerging players
- Questel: Questel provides IP intelligence and investigation services, including trademark and patent infringement research. It overlaps with GDA's Intellectual Property Rights & Trademark Infringement Investigation offering.
- Diligent (Diligent Corporation): Diligent offers governance, risk, and compliance software with due diligence and third-party risk modules. It is a partial adjacent competitor to GDA's vendor due-diligence and compliance-focused investigations.
- Stroz Friedberg (Aon Cyber Solutions): Stroz Friedberg, now part of Aon, provides digital forensics, investigations, and e-discovery — overlapping with GDA's Litigation Support, OSINT, and TSCM capabilities in the corporate-fraud and electronic-evidence domain.
Direct peers
- TOPSGRUP: TOPSGRUP is an Indian security services company offering manned guarding, electronic surveillance, and investigation services. It directly overlaps with GDA's security-guarding and electronic-security-systems business.
- SIS Limited: SIS is one of India's largest private security and facility management firms, offering manned guarding, electronic security, and cash logistics. It is the closest domestic peer to GDA's physical-security and electronic-security-systems verticals.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
GDA social profiles
Digital presenceGDA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GDA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
GDA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GDA 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 GDA
What does GDA do?
GDA provides corporate and personal investigative services including asset tracing, background screening, due diligence, matrimonial investigations, insurance claims verification, litigation support, OSINT and TSCM (technical surveillance counter-measures), alongside physical security services (manned guarding, executive protection, canine squads) and electronic security systems installation (fire alarms, access control, CCTV, BMS, hydrants/sprinklers, nurse call). The firm serves multinational corporations, financial institutions, government agencies, insurers, law firms, and high-net-worth individuals across India and 60+ countries.
Is GDA a public or private company?
GDA is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was GDA founded?
GDA was founded in 1961. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is GDA based?
GDA is headquartered in New Delhi, India, in the Asia region.
How does GDA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Private Investigation Services are the primary driver. The others are physical Security Services and electronic Security Systems.
Who are GDA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Pinkerton, HireRight, Kroll, First Advantage and Control Risks. Emerging players are Questel, Diligent (Diligent Corporation) and Stroz Friedberg (Aon Cyber Solutions). Direct peers are TOPSGRUP and SIS Limited.
Does GDA have an API?
No public API is recorded for GDA.
What industry is GDA in?
GDA's product category is Private Investigation and Security Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAPAG, Third-Party Risk, Vendor Due Diligence & Supply Chain Compliance, with a secondary code of BPAAAFAH, Fraud, Waste & Abuse (FWA) Detection & SIU Support. Its NAICS code is 561611.