ProBono India

What ProBono India does

ProBono India is a private nonprofit organization founded in October 2016 and headquartered in Surat, Gujarat, India. It operates as what it describes as India's first integrated platform for legal aid and awareness initiatives, bundling six activity streams — legal aid, legal awareness, legal research, legal journalism, legal intervention, and legal activism — under a socio-legal approach. The organization serves three primary constituencies: underprivileged individuals who cannot afford legal representation, law students seeking practical socio-legal exposure, and law schools/academic institutions interested in legal aid clinics and research collaboration. Its service portfolio includes a rolling internship programme, a Nyaya Mitra campus ambassador initiative, annual essay and film competitions (Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam competitions, now in their 9th edition), a portfolio of online capacity-building courses covering access to justice, ADR, legal drafting, and research skills, and a Knowledge Bank repository of more than 269 papers and 331 case analyses.

The organization runs no proprietary technology stack beyond a standard website (probono-india.in) and basic social media presence; there are no APIs, SDKs, or AI/ML capabilities. Its core "platform" is in practice a curated content and community hub rather than a software product. ProBono India generates revenue through a combination of donations, sponsorships, and promotional/advertising partnerships with law schools (notably Gujarat Maritime University, RRU, and NFSU for admissions advertisements). It maintains strategic partnerships with several National Law Universities (GNLU, NLU Odisha, RGNUL Patiala, NUSRL Ranchi) and the government's National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). The organization is founder-led by Dr. Kalpeshkumar L Gupta, employs 11-50 people, and does not publish financial information.

Name

ProBono India

Legal name

ProBono India

Website

https://probono-india.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ProBono India is a Surat-based nonprofit founded in 2016 that integrates legal aid, awareness, research, journalism, and activism for underprivileged communities, law students, and law schools across India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAFAC

Public Defense & Legal Aid Services

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Justice System (Courts, Prosecution & Corrections)

SECONDARYBPAGAFAA

Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYEDAAAFAI

Legal Literacy & Public Legal Education (Know Your Rights)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

SECONDARYBPAGADAN

Education Policy, Research & Advocacy Organizations (Nonprofit)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

Keywords

• Legal aid services
• Legal awareness programs
• Legal research publishing
• Pro bono legal
• Legal journalism

Headquarters

HQ city

Surat

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: ProBono India accepts donations and sponsorships from individuals and organizations to fund its legal aid and awareness initiatives.
2. Advertising and Promotional Partnerships: The organization partners with educational institutions for promotional activities including admissions advertisements for universities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ProBono India is a non-profit organization that provides free legal aid to underprivileged individuals, conducts legal awareness activities on socio-legal issues, publishes legal research through its Knowledge Bank, and runs legal journalism, legal intervention, and legal activism initiatives. It supplements these with educational programs including internships, essay and film competitions, and capacity-building courses for law students, partnering with national law universities and NALSA.

Product overview

ProBono India operates as an integrated platform for legal aid and awareness initiatives in India, founded in October 2016. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of legal services including direct legal aid, legal awareness programs, legal research publishing, legal journalism, legal intervention, and legal activism. It supplements core services with educational programs including internship opportunities, essay and film competitions, and capacity-building courses on legal skills. The platform maintains a Knowledge Bank repository of legal research, publishes news and blogs on socio-legal topics, and operates a directory of legal aid centers across India.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Aid Services Free legal assistance provided to needy individuals who cannot afford legal representation, connecting beneficiaries with legal professionals and partner law schools.
• Legal Awareness Programs Awareness activities on various socio-legal issues aimed at educating the public about their legal rights and remedies.
• Legal Research and Knowledge Bank Publication of legal research papers, case studies, presentations, books, book reviews, interviews, and case analyses through the Knowledge Bank digital repository.
• Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam National Legal Essay Competition Annual national essay competition for law students and aspiring lawyers on socio-legal topics, promoting research and writing skills.
• Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam International Socio-Legal Film Making Competition Annual international film competition encouraging creative socio-legal expression through short films on legal and social justice themes.
• Online Short Term Course on Legal Aid and Allied Laws National-level online short-term course covering legal aid principles, procedures, and allied laws for law students and legal professionals.
• 10-Day Online National Legal Skills Development Program 10-day intensive online national program for aspiring lawyers to develop essential legal skills including legal writing, research, and advocacy.
• One Week Capacity Building Programme on Access to Justice One week intensive program focused on access to justice initiatives and improving legal service delivery in India.
• 10 Day Capacity Building Programme on Research Skills and Research Tools Online national program developing research skills and proficiency with research tools for law students and legal professionals.
• Internship Programme Rolling internship program for law students to develop holistic professional personality with a socio-legal approach, in collaboration with partner institutions and NALSA.
• Nyaya Mitra Program Intern and campus ambassador program engaging law students across India in legal aid and awareness activities on socio-legal issues.
• Legal Journalism and ProBono News Integration and dissemination of legal aid and awareness initiatives through news articles, updates on legal developments, and coverage of judgments and policy on probono-india.in.
• Directory of Legal Aid Centers Online directory helping users locate legal aid centers across India for accessing free legal assistance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Conducts rolling internship programmes for law students to develop holistic personality with socio-legal approach
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GNLU (Gujarat National Law University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2016GNLU is associated with ProBono India for legal aid initiatives and socio-legal research collaboration.
• NLU Odisha (National Law University Odisha)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2016NLU Odisha partners with ProBono India for legal aid and awareness activities.
• RGNUL Patiala (Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2016RGNUL Patiala collaborates with ProBono India for legal aid initiatives.
• Gujarat Maritime UniversityminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2016Gujarat Maritime University partners for promotional/advertising activities on the ProBono India platform.
• RRU (Rashtriya Raksha University)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2016RRU promotes admissions through ProBono India platform.
• NFSU (National Forensic Sciences University)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2016NFSU promotes law courses through ProBono India platform.
• Ahmedabad UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2016Ahmedabad University participates in ProBono India's legal initiatives.
• Ahmedabad Management AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2016AMA partners for legal initiatives and awareness programs.
• NUSRL Ranchi (National University of Study and Research in Law)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2016NUSRL Ranchi collaborates in ProBono India's legal initiatives.
• Kamendu Joshi And AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 October 2016Legal advisory partnership for pro bono initiatives.
• NALSA (National Legal Services Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2016Government legal services authority working with ProBono India on internship programmes and legal aid.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Justice Ventures International: Organization supporting legal aid clinics and pro bono legal services globally, including partnerships with law schools. Comparable as a pro bono legal services facilitator with law school partnership models.
• Pro Bono Net: Nonprofit organization supporting pro bono legal services through technology, training, and law school partnerships. Comparable as an organization integrating pro bono legal initiatives with law school engagement and knowledge resources.

Broad incumbents

• The Legal Aid Society (New York): Major US-based legal aid organization providing free legal services, conducting impact litigation, and operating law school partnerships. Comparable as a comprehensive legal aid and awareness nonprofit integrating multiple service lines.
• Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative: India-based international NGO working on human rights, access to justice, and prison reform. Comparable as an India-headquartered organization conducting research and advocacy on access-to-justice issues.
• International Commission of Jurists: Global organization of judges and lawyers promoting human rights and the rule of law through legal research, advocacy, and intervention. Comparable in combining legal research, awareness, and intervention on rights-based issues.
• NALSA (National Legal Services Authority): Statutory apex body for legal aid in India. ProBono India is itself a partner of NALSA, making it a direct comparable as an organization operating in the legal aid and awareness ecosystem with national reach.

Direct peers

• Human Rights Law Network (HRLN): India-wide network of lawyers providing legal aid, filing public interest litigation, and conducting human rights advocacy. Directly comparable as a legal aid and human rights NGO intervening in socio-legal matters.
• Lawyers Collective: Long-standing Indian legal NGO providing legal aid, conducting public interest litigation, and engaging in legal awareness. Comparable in mission and activities including aid, activism, and rights-based intervention.
• Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy: India-based legal research and policy organization conducting legal research and publishing on access-to-justice issues. Highly comparable as a research-driven legal NGO publishing case studies and policy outputs in India.
• Alternative Law Forum: Bangalore-based legal aid and research organization offering alternative legal services and conducting socio-legal research. Comparable as a small Indian nonprofit combining legal aid, research, and awareness.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/probonoindia
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProBono.Law
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/probono-india

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ProBono India