What Centre for Advanced Research & Development (CARD) does

Centre for Advanced Research & Development (CARD) is a non-governmental organization established in 1992 and headquartered in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. It operates as a development sector entity focused on rural and tribal development, livelihood promotion, skill development, natural resource management, and women's empowerment across underserved geographies in central and eastern India. Its program footprint spans 843 villages across 40 blocks in 17 districts across 6 states, reaching over 200,000 rural households through 3,500+ self-help groups (SHGs), 16 farmer-producer organizations (FPOs), 1,000+ community resource persons (CRPs), and a 250+ professional team supplemented by an officially listed 64-employee core.

CARD's core service portfolio combines skill development programs (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras under NSDC, DDUGKY, ACABC, NULM), livelihood initiatives (WADI tribal development, FPO promotion, natural product marketing through the Madhyabhashi Natural Product Company and the Madhyabhashi Livelihood Resource Centre), and water-sanitation-agriculture projects (Diwasa with EY, Parivartan with HDFC Bank, Samruddhi with John Deere, Women+Water Alliance, and a Carbon Offset Project). It also operates a Rural Technology Resource Centre. The technology underpinnings are conventional — field-based program management with no proprietary software product, AI/ML capability, or patent portfolio disclosed.

CARD's revenue model is grant- and CSR-driven. FY 2024-25 receipts were approximately ₹36.74 crore against expenditure of ₹35.92 crore. Revenue sources span corporate CSR partnerships (John Deere, HDFC Bank, EY, Cipla, GAIL), government schemes (NABARD, SFAC, NSDC, MSDE, TRIFED), multilateral and bilateral donors (UNICEF, World Bank, WaterAid), and individual donations. The organization is registered under the Madhya Pradesh Societies Registration Act, 1973 and is FCRA-registered, enabling it to receive international contributions and operate a near break-even budget at scale.

Name

Centre for Advanced Research & Development (CARD)

Legal name

Centre for Advanced Research and Development

Website

https://cardindia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CARD is a Bhopal-based nonprofit NGO founded in 1992, delivering rural development, tribal livelihoods, skill training, and WASH programs across six Indian states through CSR partnerships and government grants, reaching 200,000+ households via SHGs, FPOs, and CRPs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bhopal

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Project Grants: CARD receives funding through government schemes and projects including MSDE, NRLM, DAY-NULM, NABARD, SFAC, and various state government programs. Annual receipts range from approximately 20 Crore to 36 Crore INR based on statutory information.
2. Corporate CSR Partnerships: Implementing CSR projects for corporate partners like John Deere (Samruddhi program - 30 crore investment), HDFC Bank (Parivartan), E&Y, Cipla, GAIL, and others. Projects cover holistic rural development across multiple states.
3. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations under 80G of Indian IT Act. Accepts donations for COVID relief and various development initiatives.
4. Tribal Product Sales: Sale of eco-friendly organic tribal products (honey, vinegar) through Maikal Hills Natural Products Company, linking tribal communities with companies and FPOs at apex level.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CARD is a Central India-focused nonprofit society that implements rural development programs on behalf of government agencies, corporate CSR partners, and international donors. Its core offerings include community institution building (3,500+ SHGs, 16 FPOs), skill development through PMKK/ACABC/DDUGKY/NULM centers, agricultural development, watershed and natural resource management, tribal livelihood programs, women empowerment, and CSR program execution. It also operates a social enterprise (Maikal Hills Natural Products Company) that produces organic tribal honey and vinegar.

Product overview

CARD operates as a nonprofit development organization offering multiple programs and products across rural development, skill development, and tribal livelihood promotion. The core offerings include: (1) Maikal Hills Natural Products Company (MHNPC) - a social enterprise producing organic tribal products including honey and vinegar; (2) Training facilities including Maikal Hills Livelihood Resource Centre and Rural Technology Resource Centre for technology transfer to tribals; (3) Government scheme implementations including PMKK, ACABC, DDUGKY, and NULM for skill development; (4) CSR programs including Parivartan (HDFC), Samruddhi (John Deere), and Diwasa (E&Y); (5) Agricultural programs including FPOs, WADI orchards, and watershed management; and (6) Women's empowerment initiatives like Women+Water Alliance. The organization does not offer a unified software platform but rather delivers development services through partnerships, training centers, and community programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK) Skill Development Program State-of-the-art skill development centers run by CARD in partnership with NSDC and state agencies, offering market-ready courses across agriculture, apparel, IT, construction, healthcare and security industries, with 16,000+ trained and 8,500+ placed candidates across 5 centers in Chhindwara, Balaghat, Dindori, Mandla and Ujjain.
• ACABC (Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centers) Training Program Training program for agricultural graduates to set up Agri-Clinics and Agri-Business Centers, coordinated by MANAGE with CARD as Nodal Training Institute in Bhopal.
• DDUGKY (Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana) Skill Training Skill training program for rural youth providing market-specific skills with job placement support, implemented by CARD at centers in Ghughri (Mandla) and Karnal (Haryana).
• DAY-NULM (National Urban Livelihood Mission) Centers Urban poverty alleviation program through skill training and placement under DAY-NULM, with CARD running 2 centers in Dindori and Chhindwara and programme implementation across 70 mission cities of Madhya Pradesh.
• Parivartan - HDFC Bank Holistic Rural Development CSR Program HDFC Bank's holistic rural development project implemented by CARD, covering livelihood, infrastructure, skill development, financial literacy and education across 79 villages covering 18,000 households in 4 states.
• Samruddhi - John Deere CSR Program Implementation John Deere India's flagship CSR program for socio-economic empowerment of vulnerable families through integrated village development, implemented by CARD since 2015 across 27 villages in 3 states (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab) reaching 20,965 households and 40,000 beneficiaries with an investment of over INR 30 crore.
• Diwasa - E&Y Foundation SHG Strengthening Program E&Y Foundation partnered initiative to strengthen women SHGs in Umarban area, impacting 24,000 women through capacity building, structural development and financial inclusion; complemented by an Afforestation and Carbon Offset Project covering 1,000 hectares of waste land.
• Women + Water Alliance Program Partnership program with WaterAid India ensuring water security through water quality monitoring, water harvesting structures, and village water committees, impacting 300,000+ people in Dhar and Dewas districts of Madhya Pradesh.
• Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) Promotion Program Formation and support of 16 Farmer Producer Organizations empowering over 12,000 farmers in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh through consolidated resources, technical support, training and market access, in partnership with SFAC and NABARD.
• WADI Tribal Orchard Development Program NABARD-supported tribal development project establishing horticulture orchards (mango, guava) on tribal lands in Dhar district with a 70% plant survival rate, providing sustained livelihood and ecological benefits.
• Maikal Hills Natural Products Company (MHNPC) Social Enterprise A registered non-profit social enterprise established in 2005 that produces eco-friendly and organic tribal products including honey and vinegar, empowering Bhil and Gond communities by providing livelihood options and establishing forward and backward linkages with companies and FPOs at the apex level.
• Maikal Hills Livelihood Resource Centre (MHLRC) Training Facility 6-acre eco-friendly training campus at Ghughari equipped with LCDs, OHPs, TVs, computers and internet facilities, providing experiential training on watershed, agricultural innovation, horticulture, fishery and NTFP programs; hosts PMKK, IWMP and MKSP training programs.
• Rural Technology Resource Centre (TRC) Training Packages DST-approved Rural Technology Resource Centre offering Techno-Management training packages in honey processing, NTFP processing including Natural Fibre (Sisal) and food processing, equipped with a processing plant and electric and solar driers for tribal livelihood technology transfer.
• Madhura Jungle Honey (Organic Tribal Honey) Eco-friendly organic honey produced by tribal communities, marketed through the Maikal Hills Natural Products Company and sourced from Bhil and Gond producers in Central India.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200000+ rural households reached
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARD runs 5 PMKK centers in partnership with NSDC and state agencies, providing market-ready skills training across agriculture, apparel, IT, construction, health care and security sectors.
• NABARDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Tribal Development Fund Wadi Projects, watershed programs, and Farmer Support Programme with Responsible Soya, supporting 12000+ farmers through 12 FPOs.
• SFAC (Small Farmers Agri Business Consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Farmer Producer Organization promotion, empowering farmers through agricultural supplies, training, and market access.
• Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementation of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK) scheme creating state-of-the-art skill development infrastructure in parliamentary constituencies.
• UNICEFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for WASH programs, Fit for School initiative in Shivpuri district, and Wise Water Management in tribal residential schools.
• WaterAid IndiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen + Water Alliance partner ensuring water security through water quality monitoring, village water committees, and Jal Jeevan Mission implementation.
• TRIFEDmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal welfare partnership for Minor Forest Produce procurement and tribal livelihood enhancement.
• MANAGEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Institute of Agricultural Extension Management - CARD is Nodal Training Institute for ACABC Agri-clinics and Agri-Business Centers training since 2016.
• National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Mahila Kisan Sashkatikaran Pariyojna (MKSP) empowering women farmers and community resource persons.
• Madhya Pradesh Tourism BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafe Tourism Destination for Women project creating women workforce at tourist destinations for solo women travelers.
• Soledad Network / SolidaridadmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmer Support Programme in Responsible Soya covering 9000 farming households in 5 districts of Malwa region with training and demonstrations.
• State Urban Livelihood Mission (SULM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAY-NULM implementation in 70 mission cities of Madhya Pradesh with 2 NULM centers in Dindori and Chhindwara.
• National Health Mission (NHM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) implementation in 9 development blocks of Mandla district with 2500 peer educators.
• NACO / MPSACmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLink Worker Scheme implementation for HIV/AIDS awareness in Ujjain district and Targeted Intervention with 1300 Female Sex Workers in Bhopal.
• Madhya Pradesh Mahila Vitta Evam Vikas Nigam (Tejaswani)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen empowerment programme covering 5300 households through 436 SHGs with savings of over Rs 25 lakh.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BAIF Development Research Foundation: Pan-India development foundation working on livestock, agriculture, watershed, and women's empowerment across rural India — closely comparable to CARD's livelihood, agriculture, and women empowerment programs and similar reliance on government scheme partnerships.
• Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives (CInI): Tata Trusts-promoted NGO working specifically on tribal livelihoods in Central India (Jharkhand, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, MP) — directly comparable to CARD's Bhil/Gond-focused tribal program and NTFP/agriculture cluster approach.
• PRADAN (Professional Assistance for Development Action): One of India's largest grassroots rural development NGOs promoting livelihoods among tribal and marginalized communities through Self Help Groups, FPOs, and natural resource management — directly comparable to CARD in target beneficiaries, geographic focus (Central Indian tribal belt), and intervention model.
• WOTR (Watershed Organisation Trust): Pune-based NGO specializing in watershed development, climate-resilient agriculture, and community institution building across rainfed India — comparable to CARD on integrated watershed-livelihood programs and participatory community models.
• DHAN Foundation: Madurai-based development NGO working on rainfed farming, microfinance, and tribal development across India — overlapping with CARD on community institutions, agriculture, and tribal livelihoods though operating primarily in South India.
• SRIJAN (Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions): New Delhi-based rural development NGO focused on natural resource management, FPO promotion, and tribal livelihoods in Central and Eastern India — overlapping with CARD on FPO formation, watershed work, and tribal geography, and even shares an advisory member (R. Parasuram chairs SRIJAN).
• Gramin Vikas Trust: Jharkhand-based rural development NGO focused on tribal livelihoods, watershed, and agriculture in eastern India — comparable to CARD on tribal community programs and donor-funded integrated rural development projects.

Broad incumbents

• Tata Trusts: India's largest philanthropic foundation funding and operating rural development, tribal livelihoods (via CInI), agriculture, and water programs — a major funder and competitor to CARD for CSR/grants, and a strategic partner ecosystem.
• Reliance Foundation: Corporate foundation of Reliance Group running large-scale rural livelihoods, health, education, and disaster response programs across India — overlaps with CARD in rural development but at vastly greater scale, including direct competition for CSR funding pools.

Regional players

• Navsarjan Trust: Gujarat-based NGO focused on Dalit and tribal empowerment, land rights, and rural livelihoods in western India — comparable to CARD on tribal community focus but operating primarily in Gujarat rather than Central India.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/india_card
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAiD4_pp1Du7129MPl11HYQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CARD-INDIA-654965057855678
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-for-advanced-research-development-card
• Instagraminstagram.com/cardindia1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centre for Advanced Research & Development (CARD)