Press Club of India

What Press Club of India does

Press Club of India (PCI) is a non-profit, membership-based professional association for journalists and media practitioners, headquartered at Raisina Road in Lutyens Delhi, New Delhi. The club was conceived in the early 1930s by veteran journalist Durga Das after his visit to the London Press Club, and was formally established as a journalists' gathering point; firmographic data places its founding year at 1958. Its physical position adjacent to Parliament House and key government ministries is central to its identity, positioning it as the natural meeting venue for reporters covering Indian political affairs.

PCI delivers its value proposition through a portfolio of physical facilities and member services rather than through any technology product. Core offerings include the Conference Hall, Conference Room, Margosa Room, Surahi Room, PCI Lawn, Party Rooms, the Bangabandhu Media Centre, a restaurant, gym, and indoor games facilities. Supplementary services include medical support, education and scholarship programs, and donation programs. The club also operates the PCI Speaks press-statement platform and PCI News content channel, and maintains a presence across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and its official website to publish press releases and statements on press-freedom issues.

The business model is member-funded: journalists and media professionals pay membership fees (specific pricing is not publicly disclosed) to access the club's facilities, dining, workspace, and welfare services, supplemented by facility rentals for events and donations. PCI operates as an elected, member-governed body led by President Gautam Lahiri (re-elected in November 2024), with no external investors, parent company, or venture backing. Geographic footprint is national (India-only), with recent activity including co-hosted events with the Bangladesh High Commission and the Embassy of Ireland, indicating use of the premises for diplomatic and cross-border media programming.

Name

Press Club of India

Legal name

Press Club of India

Website

https://pressclubofindia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Press Club of India is a New Delhi-based, member-governed non-profit association for journalists, founded on the London Press Club model and located near Parliament House in Lutyens Delhi. It provides meeting, dining, workspace, and welfare facilities to media professionals and operates press-freedom advocacy channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association / Journalist Club Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB)

Keywords

• Journalist association
• Press club membership
• Media professional services
• Press facilities Delhi
• Journalist networking hub

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Press Club of India is a nonprofit membership-based journalists' club that provides meeting and event spaces (Conference Room, Conference Hall, Margosa Room, Surahi Room, PCI Lawn, Party Rooms), the Bangabandhu Media Centre, on-site dining (Restaurant), fitness (Gym), and recreational facilities (Indoor Games Room), supplemented by member welfare services such as medical support, education assistance, and donation programmes. Members also gain access to PCI Speaks press statements and Press Notes, and the club hosts press conferences, workshops, cultural events, and diplomatic press launches.

Product overview

The Press Club of India is a professional membership-based journalists' club offering a unified portfolio of facilities and services. Core offerings include: meeting and event spaces (Conference Room, Conference Hall, Margosa Room, Surahi Room, PCI Lawn, Party Rooms), media infrastructure (Bangabandhu Media Centre), dining (Restaurant), fitness (Gym), and recreational facilities (Indoor Games Room). Supporting services include medical support, education assistance, and donation programs. The club also serves as a platform for press communications through PCI Speaks (press statements) and organizes events including workshops and celebrations. The club is located in the heart of Lutyens Delhi near Parliament House and provides a hub for journalists' professional and social needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PCI Speaks: A section of the Press Club of India website containing press statements and resolutions
• PCI News
• Bangabandhu Media Centre

Products and services

• Conference Room Conference and meeting room facility available for members and event organisers at the Press Club of India premises on Raisina Road, New Delhi.
• Conference Hall Larger conference and event hall for press events, gatherings, and meetings at the Press Club of India.
• Bangabandhu Media Centre Media centre facility named after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (Bangabandhu), providing workspace and media resources for journalists within the Press Club of India.
• Restaurant On-site restaurant and dining facility serving members of the Press Club of India.
• Surahi Room Elegant dining and event space within the Press Club of India premises, available for member functions and events.
• Margosa Room Meeting room and event space within the Press Club of India facilities, used for member gatherings and small events.
• PCI Lawn (Open Lawn) Open outdoor lawn area within the Press Club of India premises, available for events and gatherings.
• Party Rooms Private rooms within the Press Club of India available for parties and private member events.
• Indoor Games Room Indoor recreational facility offering games and entertainment for Press Club of India members.
• Gym Fitness and exercise facility available to Press Club of India members.
• Medical Services Medical and health support services for Press Club of India members, including medical camps and health check-ups.
• Education Support Educational and scholarship programmes offered to Press Club of India members.
• Donation Services Donation and charity support services coordinated for members of the Press Club of India.
• PCI Speaks (Press Statements) Press releases, statements, and media communications issued by the Press Club of India on press freedom and journalism issues, accessible via the PCI Speaks section of the website.
• Events Program Programme of events organised by the Press Club of India, including press meets, workshops, celebrations, and cultural programmes for members and external partners.
• Press Notes Online section enabling journalists to view and share press notes and media releases published by the Press Club of India.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Bangladesh High CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2024Co-hosted the celebration of Birth Centenary of Salil Chouduri on 16 March, 2024 at the Press Club of India. This cultural diplomatic event brought together media professionals from both countries.
• Irish Embassy in New DelhiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted the Press Launch of Ireland's Presidency of the European Union (EU) at the Press Club of India.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• National Press Club (Washington, D.C.): U.S. flagship press club serving journalists with event facilities, dining, and a high-profile speakers program near the White House and Congress. Closest functional analog globally to PCI's Lutyens Delhi positioning.
• Mumbai Press Club: India's other major press club, serving journalists in Mumbai with member facilities, events, and advocacy. Directly comparable as a domestic Indian peer serving the same journalist persona.
• Overseas Press Club of America: New York-based professional organization for foreign correspondents and journalists, focused on networking, awards, and press freedom advocacy. Comparable professional-association function to PCI.
• National Press Club of Australia: Canberra-based journalist club offering events, briefings, and a venue for media professionals near Australia's Parliament House — directly analogous to PCI's Parliament-adjacent positioning.
• London Press Club: The original inspiration for the Press Club of India (Durga Das visited in the 1930s). Operates as a membership club for journalists in London with dining, events, and press freedom advocacy — directly comparable in mission and model.
• Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong: Membership club for journalists and media professionals offering dining, events, and facilities in a major Asia-Pacific political center. Comparable as a journalist-focused club with a strong location-driven value proposition.

Emerging players

• Indian Women's Press Corps: India-based membership organization for women journalists offering press facilities and advocacy. Comparable mission of serving Indian journalists with dedicated workspace and convening functions.

Regional players

• Press Club of Bangkok / Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand: Bangkok-based membership club for journalists with dining, events, and advocacy. Comparable as an Asia-based journalist club but operating in a different country.
• Karachi Press Club: Pakistan's flagship journalist membership club with press freedom advocacy and member facilities. Comparable organizational model and mission though geographically distinct.
• Singapore Press Club: Singapore-based professional organization for journalists offering networking, training, and events. Comparable mission and services to PCI but operates in a different national market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pcitweets
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFk8kdRC0-jd73EdBi5tVvw
• Facebookfacebook.com/PressClubIndia
• Instagraminstagram.com/pressclubindia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/press-club-of-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 Press Club of India