What Esya Centre does

Esya Centre is an India-based, non-profit policy research think tank founded in 2018 and headquartered in New Delhi, registered under Sections 12A and 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act. It conducts empirical research on technology policy in India's digital economy, with thematic programs covering antitrust in digital markets, artificial intelligence and emerging tech, internet and data governance, creative and green economies, and animal welfare. Outputs include long-form policy reports, the weekly "Esya Dispatch" newsletter, the "Perspectives Blog" and podcast, the "Esya Investigates" investigative series, and engagement programs such as the Policy Agora Applied Policy Fellowship, Emerging Tech Forum, Youth Engagements, and the New Indian Consumer Initiative (NICI). The organization is led by Director Meghna Bal with a team of approximately 15 staff and fellows, including named researchers focused on competition law, AI governance, platform accountability, IP, and generative AI.

Esya Centre differentiates itself through rigorous, primary survey-based empirical research methodologies applied to regulatory questions, and through direct engagement with Indian regulatory bodies including MeitY, TRAI, CCI, DPIIT, and CERT-In via consultation responses. Its business model is non-commercial: all publications, reports, blog posts, podcasts, and newsletters are distributed freely through its website, with no disclosed pricing or commercial products. Revenue, funding sources, and grantors are not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market approach is community-led, relying on thought leadership content, email newsletters, podcasts, events, and fellowship programs to reach government policymakers, industry stakeholders, MSMEs, civil society, and academic audiences.

Strategically, Esya Centre is positioned as an independent voice in Indian digital policy, building intellectual authority through volume and cadence of empirical publications (multiple reports per month through 2025-2026) and visible engagement in active regulatory consultations. Its competitive position rests on domain depth, primary data collection capability, and recognized brand within India's policy research community. As a non-profit without disclosed funding, the entity's expansion capacity is constrained by grant flow rather than commercial scaling dynamics.

Name

Esya Centre

Legal name

Esya Centre

Website

https://esyacentre.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Esya Centre is an India-based non-profit policy research think tank founded in 2018 in New Delhi, conducting empirical research on technology policy (antitrust, AI, data governance) and publishing reports, newsletters, and podcasts freely to government, industry, civil society, and academic audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

ESG, Sustainability & Impact Research (BPAHALAL)

Keywords

• Technology policy research
• Digital economy analysis
• AI governance research
• Antitrust policy studies
• Data governance research

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Non-profit operations: Esya Centre is registered as a Non-Profit under Sections 12A and 80G of the Income Tax Act. As a think tank, the organization likely operates through grants, donations, and potentially fellowship/membership programs rather than commercial revenue streams.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Esya Centre is a New Delhi-based non-profit technology policy think tank that conducts empirical research and publishes analysis on India's digital economy. Its work spans antitrust in digital markets, AI and emerging technology governance, internet and data governance, creative and green economies, and animal welfare, with the aim of informing regulators, government, industry, and civil society through independent research.

Product overview

Esya Centre is a policy research think tank focused on technology policy in India, operating as a non-profit organization. Its portfolio consists of research publications (long-form reports, policy briefs, and working papers), recurring analytical content (Esya Dispatch weekly newsletter, Perspectives Blog), investigative research (Esya Investigates series), and engagement programs (Emerging Tech Forum, Policy Agora fellowship, Youth Engagements, NICI initiative, and podcast). The organization does not offer a software product or SaaS platform; its outputs are intellectual property in the form of written analysis, policy recommendations, and public discourse facilitation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Esya Dispatch Weekly newsletter that tracks and curates developments in technology policy and the digital economy for policy professionals, researchers, and informed readers in India.
• Esya Investigates Investigative research series producing in-depth examinations of specific issues at the intersection of technology and policy in India.
• Perspectives Blog Online blog publishing short-form analytical pieces on contemporary technology policy and digital economy issues from Esya Centre's researchers.
• Long-Form Publications Full-length policy research reports and papers produced under the thematic programs (Antitrust in Digital Markets, AI and Emerging Tech, Internet and Data Governance, Creative and Green Economies, Animal Welfare), targeted at policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders.
• Perspectives Podcast Audio podcast series featuring conversations and analysis on technology policy and digital economy topics.
• Policy Agora (Applied Policy Fellowship) Fellowship program that engages external participants in applied technology policy research at Esya Centre.
• Emerging Tech Forum Stakeholder engagement forum convening conversations on emerging technology issues with industry, government, and academic participants.
• Youth Engagements Outreach programs targeted at young audiences to build awareness and participation in technology policy discourse.
• New Indian Consumer Initiative (NICI) Research and engagement initiative focused on consumer-side issues in India's digital economy, including consumer protection and welfare.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF): Think tank producing research on technology policy, AI regulation, and digital competition. Comparable as a policy research entity, primarily US-focused, that generates empirical reports for the technology policy ecosystem.
• Access Now: Global digital rights organization working on internet freedom, platform governance, and emerging technology policy. Comparable in mission and research/advocacy style, though with a global rather than India-only geographic footprint.
• CUTS International: India-headquartered international public policy research and advocacy organization. Comparable in operating model as a non-profit research entity engaging regulators across trade, competition, and consumer protection.
• IT for Change: India-based digital rights and internet governance research/policy organization. Closely comparable to Esya Centre in mission, geography, and focus on platform accountability, data governance, and digital economy policy.
• Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF): Indian digital rights organization working on internet policy, platform regulation, and freedom of expression. Comparable as an India-based, technology-policy-focused organization engaging regulators and stakeholders.
• Aspen Digital: Program of the Aspen Institute focused on technology policy, AI governance, and platform regulation. Comparable as a non-profit think tank producing reports, convenings, and policy recommendations on technology issues.
• Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) India: India-focused think tank conducting research on internet freedom, privacy, and emerging technology policy. Directly comparable on mandate, country focus, and research-driven advocacy model.

Broad incumbents

• Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER): Established India-based economic policy think tank with research touching on digital economy, competition, and regulation. Comparable as a larger, longer-established policy research entity operating in adjacent regulatory domains.
• Carnegie India: Indian arm of the Carnegie Endowment focused on technology policy, AI, and international affairs. Comparable as a larger, well-funded India-focused policy research entity producing reports on technology governance.
• Observer Research Foundation (ORF): Major India-based think tank with broad policy coverage including a strong technology and digital economy portfolio. Comparable as a larger, more established Indian think tank with overlapping technology-policy research.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/esyacentre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Esya Centre