What Policy & Development Advisory Group does

Policy & Development Advisory Group (PDAG) is a New Delhi–based social enterprise operating at the intersection of public policy advisory, primary research, data solutions, and strategic communications. Founded in 2018, the firm serves state and central government institutions (notably the Governments of Jharkhand, Bihar, and Maharashtra), multilateral organisations (ODI Global, NSF, ALIGN), academic institutions (IDS, LSE, University of Witwatersrand, CEBRAP), and CSR/civil society partners (Tata Trust, Asar, Gramvikas, Pro Sport Development). Its work spans five practice areas — Governance & Political Economy, Labour Mobilities and Future of Work, Climate Change and Sustainability, Digital Cultures and Futures, and Sports for Social Impact — delivered through four service verticals: Public Policy and Strategic Advisory, Research, Strategic Communications, and Data Solutions.

PDAG's technology surface consists of four proprietary data platforms marketed under its Data Solutions vertical: DevMonitor (a real-time governance transformation tool for monitoring KPIs at the local government level), NutriIntel (an analytics platform for tracking malnutrition to the lowest administrative granularity), SkillBridge (a digital skill-based workforce mobilisation tool for unorganised-sector migrant workers), and SurveySense (a real-time survey monitoring platform for field teams). The firm also operates its flagship Conference of Panchayats (CoP) framework as a convening and advisory model that has scaled to 250+ gram panchayats across multiple Indian states. Notable deliverables include the Johar Pariyojana Portal (Jharkhand state infrastructure tracker, launched December 2022 by the Chief Minister) and the Jharkhand Migration Survey 2023 covering 14,000+ households across 40 districts.

PDAG's revenue model is professional-services based: it earns revenue from government advisory mandates, multilateral and academic research grants, and CSR-commissioned projects. No public pricing, productised SaaS, or consumer pricing exists; engagements are scoped on a project basis. Go-to-market is event- and publication-driven (academic journals, op-eds in Hindustan Times and Mongabay, events such as Mumbai Climate Week and COP29, plus webinars), with direct engagement for state-government mandates. As a privately held company with no disclosed funding rounds or parent company, PDAG retains full operational independence.

Name

Policy & Development Advisory Group

Legal name

Policy and Development Advisory Group Consulting LLC

Website

https://pdag.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Policy & Development Advisory Group (PDAG) is a New Delhi–based social enterprise offering public policy advisory, primary research, data solutions, and strategic communications services to Indian state governments, multilateral organisations, academic institutions, and CSR/civil society partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Consulting

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Management Services (8741), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Cooperation, Capacity Building & Policy Advisory Programs (BPADABAO), Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL), Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

Keywords

• Public policy consulting
• Policy research services
• Governance advisory
• Strategic communications
• Data analytics platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Advisory Services: PDAG provides public policy advisory services to government institutions, including policy framework development, strategic advisory, and monitoring support. Revenue derives from consulting engagements with state governments and government bodies.
2. Research Partnerships: Commissioned research initiatives with multilateral institutions (ODI Global, ALIGN, NSF), academic partners, and CSR organisations. Revenue generated through research grants and project-based funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Policy & Development Advisory Group (PDAG) is a New Delhi-based social enterprise that provides public policy consulting, policy research, data analysis, and strategic communications services to government institutions, multilateral bodies, civil society organizations, and CSR clients. Its work spans practice areas including governance and political economy, labour migration, climate change, digital cultures, and sports for social impact, delivered through four service verticals (Public Policy and Strategic Advisory, Research, Strategic Communications, and Data Solutions) and supported by four proprietary data platforms (DevMonitor, NutriIntel, SkillBridge, SurveySense).

Product overview

Policy & Development Advisory Group (PDAG) is a social enterprise operating as a consultancy rather than a unified software product. Its offerings span four practice areas (Governance & Political Economy, Labour Mobilities and Future of Work, Climate Change and Sustainability, Digital Cultures and Futures, Sports for Social Impact) and four verticals (Public Policy and Strategic Advisory, Research, Strategic Communications, Data Solutions). Within its Data Solutions vertical, PDAG offers four distinct data platforms: DevMonitor (governance transformation tool), NutriIntel (malnutrition tracking analytics), SkillBridge (migrant worker workforce mobilization), and SurveySense (survey monitoring platform). These products serve governments, multilateral organisations, NGOs, and civil society organisations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DevMonitor A real-time data-driven governance transformation tool that helps local governments in backward and low trust settings drive socio-economic development by monitoring key performance and development indicators in a transparent manner and supporting informed decisions.
• NutriIntel An end-to-end intelligence and analytics platform for tracking, monitoring, and providing focused insights at the lowest granularity of administrative units, supporting governments, NGOs, CSOs, and other organisations working to address malnutrition globally.
• SkillBridge A digital skill-based workforce mobilisation solution aimed at migrant workers in the unorganised sector, indexing and cataloging their self-reported skills, prior work experience, education, certifications, and locations, and supporting targeted up-skilling interventions.
• SurveySense A real-time survey monitoring platform that helps field teams understand data quality, track progress, dynamically plan data collection activities, and manage multiple invigilator teams.
• Public Policy and Strategic Advisory Public policy and strategic advisory services that support government institutions, policymakers, and elected representatives in delivering good governance through strategic policy advisory, governance transformation, and policy framework development.
• Research Policy research services including large-scale field surveys (e.g., the Jharkhand Migration Survey 2023 covering 40 districts and 14,000+ households), gender equality studies, climate resilience research, and labour migration studies for multilateral, academic, and CSR clients.
• Strategic Communications Strategic communications services supporting policy dissemination, op-eds, expert commentary, and media engagement across outlets such as Hindustan Times, Mongabay, and Indian Express, alongside webinar series and event-driven thought leadership.

Quantifiable outcome

• 250+ Gram Panchayats engaged through Conference of Panchayats climate initiative
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Asar Social Impact AdvisorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2026Led a grassroots climate initiative in Karnataka's Kolar district in partnership with PDAG and with support from Gramvikas. The initiative resulted in 154 gram panchayats adopting 13 major climate-responsive resolutions. Asar and PDAG jointly developed the Conference of Panchayats (CoP) framework.
• GramvikascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the grassroots climate initiative in Karnataka's Kolar district alongside Asar and PDAG. Contributed to the coordinated village-level action addressing falling groundwater levels, ecological degradation and agricultural distress.
• IWWAGE (Institute for What Works to Advance Gender Equality)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned MoU in October 2024 to advance knowledge, policy, and communication initiatives around climate change, migration, and women's economic empowerment. Both organisations will collaborate on research and advocacy.
• ODI Global, LondonflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDAG secured a new research initiative with ODI Global focused on women in politics in India. Commissioned by ALIGN (Advancing Learning and Innovation on Gender Norms), the study is titled 'From Margins to Leadership: Assessing the Impact of Gender Quotas and Women Political Leadership in India's Local Self-Governments'.
• Institute of Development Studies (UK)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDAG serving as India Research Partner on multi-country project 'Youth, Affective Polarisation, and Trust: A Transnational Perspective'. Led by IDS (UK) with partners including University of Witwatersrand (South Africa) and CEBRAP (Brazil).
• University of Witwatersrand (South Africa)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner on the multi-country project 'Youth, Affective Polarisation, and Trust: A Transnational Perspective' alongside IDS (UK), CEBRAP (Brazil), and PDAG as India Research Partner.
• CEBRAP (Brazil)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner on the multi-country project 'Youth, Affective Polarisation, and Trust: A Transnational Perspective' alongside IDS (UK), University of Witwatersrand (South Africa), and PDAG as India Research Partner.
• National Science Foundation (NSF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDAG conducted study on 'Experiments on the Role of State Actors in Eliciting Pro-Developmental Behavioural Change' commissioned by NSF with academic partners Dr Anjali Thomas, Dr Charles Hankla and Dr Sayan Banerjee. Project completed in two phases with experimental field survey across three districts in Bihar.
• London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on DiSTO (From Digital Skills to Tangible Outcomes) India chapter. LSE leads DiSTO focusing on measures and models that assess people's digital skills, digital engagement, and outcomes of ICT use. PDAG organised the Digital Inclusion & Empowerment in India Symposium.
• Pro Sport Development (PSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSD and PDAG collaborating on research initiatives, government engagement and knowledge creation within sport for social impact space in India. Jointly writing on integrating Sport for Development within policy frameworks.
• Government of JharkhandflagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPDAG coordinated with Chief Secretary's Office, Government of Jharkhand and Jharkhand Agency for Promotion of Information Technology (JAPIT) to design and implement 'Johar Pariyojana Portal' for tracking infrastructure projects. Portal launched by CM Hemant Soren in December 2022.
• Tata TrustflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDAG conducted fieldwork in November 2023 for Tata Trust project examining Ayushman Bharat coverage among migrant households. Research found 82.6% of migrant households surveyed had no family member covered by any government health insurance scheme.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IPE Global: India-headquartered international development consultancy delivering policy advisory, research, and programme implementation for governments and multilaterals — closest direct competitor in terms of services, geography and donor relationships.
• Dalberg: Global policy and development advisory firm with a strong India presence providing research, data, and strategic advisory to governments, multilaterals, and foundations — directly comparable to PDAG's mandate and client mix.
• Centre for Policy Research (CPR): India-based public policy think tank producing research and policy advisory on governance, climate, and political economy — overlaps directly with PDAG's governance, climate, and political-economy practice areas.
• ODI Global: London-headquartered global affairs think tank commissioning and conducting international development research; PDAG is a research partner of ODI on women in politics in India, and both serve multilateral clients with policy research.

Emerging players

• Samhita Social Ventures: India-based social impact organisation working with CSR funders, multilaterals, and governments on development programmes and research — comparable funding mix and social-enterprise positioning to PDAG.
• Gram Vaani / OnGood: India-based social enterprise building participatory tech and community-media platforms for governance and rural development — adjacent in mission and grassroots-empowerment approach, and a potential complementor on CoP-style initiatives.

Broad incumbents

• Observer Research Foundation (ORF): Larger Indian think tank producing policy research across governance, economy, security, and climate — operates at greater scale than PDAG and overlaps on governance and policy advisory work.
• KPMG India (Development & Public Sector Advisory): Large professional services firm with a public-sector and development advisory practice serving Indian state governments on policy, monitoring, and governance transformation — directly competitive on state-level mandates like Johar Pariyojana.
• NITI Aayog-empaneled policy consultants (e.g., NCAER, ICRIER): Established Indian economic and policy research institutions that compete for government-commissioned research and policy-advisory mandates in the same domains (governance, social policy, migration) as PDAG.
• PwC India (Public Sector & Development Advisory): Big-four advisory practice with public-sector consulting for Indian states and central ministries; competes with PDAG on policy advisory, governance transformation, and CSR-funded development work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/pdag_india
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@pdag_india
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/policy-development-advisory-group-pdag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 Policy & Development Advisory Group