Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy

What Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy does

Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy is an independent, non-partitan legal policy think-tank based in New Delhi, India, founded in 2013 by Arghya Sengupta. The organization conducts legal research and provides policy advisory work aimed at improving governance through evidence-based legal reform in India. Its primary clients are central government ministries, NITI Aayog, and state governments, and it is funded through grants, donations, and commissioned research. Vidhi is staffed by 101–250 researchers and programme staff drawn from elite institutions including Oxford, the National Law School (NLS), and NALSAR.

Vidhi's work is organized around several specialized programmes and sub-brands: Nyaaya (a public-facing legal information platform), JALDI (judicial reforms), ALTR (law and technology, including digital public infrastructure and AI governance), Charkha (constitutional law), and the Vidhi Bankruptcy Research Programme (insolvency law reform). Its outputs include research publications, policy briefs, concept papers, direct legislative drafting support for ministries, and frameworks such as QUERY for legislative review. Productized or recurring initiatives include the Judicial Transparency Index, the Building Better Cities programme, and a Model Code on Indian Family Law.

Commercially and operationally, Vidhi runs a grant-and-commission model typical of policy think-tanks: revenue is generated through donor grants, philanthropic support, and commissioned studies from government clients. Geographic engagement has expanded from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to include Maharashtra, and partnerships with organizations such as NITI Aayog and the Keshav Suri Foundation (on 'Queering the Law') extend its reach into civil society and rights-based work. Multiple new verticals — climate governance, disability rights, transgender rights, urban governance, and bankruptcy — have been added in recent periods alongside the launch of structured, repeatable products such as QUERY and the Judicial Transparency Index.

Name

Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy

Legal name

Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy

Website

https://vidhilegalpolicy.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy is an independent New Delhi-based legal policy think-tank founded in 2013 that conducts research, drafts legislation, and advises central and state governments on legal reform across multiple specialized programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Policy Research and Advisory Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Offices of Lawyers (541110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Rule of Law & Justice Sector Reform (BPADAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Health Strategy, Policy & Legislation (HLAJAMAA), Law School Research Centers & Institutes (e.g., Law & Economics, Human Rights) (EDAHAIAJ)

Keywords

• Legal policy research
• Legislative drafting services
• Judicial reform research
• Constitutional law advisory
• Law and technology research

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy is an independent legal policy think-tank that produces evidence-based research reports, policy briefs, framework toolkits, and advisory publications across areas such as constitutional law, criminal justice, law and technology, disability rights, urban governance, and insolvency. It provides legislative drafting support and commissioned research to Central Government ministries, State Governments, and statutory regulators, and operates the Nyaaya public legal information platform along with research centres ALTR, Charkha, and the Vidhi Bankruptcy Research Programme.

Product overview

Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy is an independent legal think-tank that produces research publications, provides legislative drafting support to government bodies, and operates specialized research centers (ALTR for law and technology, Charkha for constitutional law, and the Bankruptcy Research Programme). The organization offers platforms and programs including Nyaaya for legal information, JALDI for judicial reforms, and QUERY for legislative review. Their product portfolio consists primarily of policy research reports, framework toolkits, and legal information resources designed to improve law-making and governance in India.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nyaaya: Legal information platform providing explainers and guides to enhance legal awareness
• JALDI
• Centre for Applied Law and Technology Research (ALTR)
• Charkha
• Vidhi Bankruptcy Research Programme

Products and services

• Research Publications (Reports, Policy Briefs, Concept Papers) Thematic legal and policy research outputs covering constitutional law, criminal justice, disability rights, urban governance, environmental law, and other areas; produced for government, judicial, and public audiences.
• Legislative Drafting Support Commissioned legal research and legislative drafting assistance provided to various Ministries, Departments, and Authorities of the Central Government and State Governments.
• Nyaaya Legal Information Platform Public-facing platform providing explainers and guides to enhance legal awareness for citizens and improve access to legal information.
• QUERY Framework for Legislative Review Framework for the periodic review of legislation based on three dimensions: Quality, Effectiveness, and Relevance, accompanied by 70- and 90-point scoring toolkits for evaluating laws.
• The Judicial Transparency Index First systematic study and index assessing transparency and disclosure practices across the Supreme Court and High Courts using 68 indicators.
• Building Better Cities Project Research project on making Delhi's buildings accessible, including legal framework analysis and implementation roadmap at state and municipal level.
• A Park for All Research Report Research report examining public parks as urban commons in Karnataka, covering legislative landscape, governance models, and accessibility for vulnerable groups.
• The Model Code on Indian Family Law Comprehensive, gender-just and queer-inclusive family law code comprising three chapters: Adult Unions, parent-child relations, and succession.
• Queering the Law: Beyond Supriyo Series of four policy briefs covering recognition of queer relationships and families, discrimination in access to goods and services, queer-affirmative healthcare, and prohibition and rehabilitation from violence; developed jointly with Keshav Suri Foundation.
• From Barriers to Bridges Report Report assessing implementation of inclusive education policies for children with disabilities across early identification, disability certification, accessibility, capacity building, and reasonable accommodations.
• The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026: What can State Governments Do? Report using Tamil Nadu as a case study examining how State Governments can exercise powers under the Transgender Persons Amendment Act, 2026.
• Procedure in Practice Report Report examining procedural reforms under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) through practitioner perspectives.
• Strengthening the Rule of Law (Tamil Nadu) Concept paper series providing legal reform recommendations for Tamil Nadu focused on gender justice, criminal justice, and constitutional reforms.
• Vidhi Podcast Series Podcast series including 'Justify' (with Season 5 covering AI, intelligence, power and technonationalism) and 'Law With a Difference', distributed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and SoundCloud.
• Implement India Video Series Video content including the 'Implement India: Envision | Empower | Enable' series and other multimedia productions distributed on YouTube.

Quantifiable outcome

• Published The Judicial Transparency Index assessing disclosure across Supreme Court and 25 High Courts
• +1 more outcomes

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

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Keshav Suri FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaborated on joint submissions to the Supreme Court's High Powered Committee in the Supriyo case on queer rights. Together developed four policy briefs titled 'Queering the Law: Beyond Supriyo' covering recognition of queer relationships and families, discrimination in access to goods and services, queer-affirmative healthcare, and prohibition and rehabilitation from violence. The submissions were informed by public consultations attended by around 150 stakeholders.
• NITI AayogcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided legal research and legislative drafting support on various policy matters. Worked on revitalising Planning Departments across States and Union Territories.
• Ministry of Electronics and Information TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned project providing legal research and legislative drafting support on technology law, digital economy regulation, privacy, and data protection matters.
• Ministry of Economic AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged project providing legal research and legislative drafting support on economic regulation and financial matters.
• Ministry of Women and Child DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned work on legal research related to women and child welfare policies and regulations.
• Department of Consumer AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged project providing legal research and drafting support on consumer protection law and regulations.
• Ministry of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided legal research and legislative drafting assistance on trade law, competition policy, and commercial regulations.
• Ministry of Housing and Urban AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged project on urban governance, public infrastructure accessibility, and urban planning frameworks.
• Government of KarnatakacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvised on legislative drafting and regulatory reforms across urban governance, climate change, environmental governance, education, and rights-based policy. Team lead for Karnataka operations.
• Government of Tamil NaducoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided legal reform recommendations through concept papers and closed-door workshops on gender justice, criminal justice, and constitutional reforms. Produced 'Strengthening the Rule of Law' concept paper series.
• International Financial Services Centre AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided advisory services on financial services regulation and legal frameworks.
• Ministry of Corporate AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided advisory input on the Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IT for Change: India-based policy and research non-profit working on digital rights, governance, and AI — directly comparable to Vidhi ALTR on technology-law and digital-economy issues, with prior alumni overlap.
• Centre for Policy Research (CPR): One of India's leading public policy think-tanks engaged with government on legal and regulatory reform across multiple sectors — closely comparable positioning, scale, and government engagement to Vidhi.
• Centre for Law and Policy Research (CLPR): India-based independent legal research and policy think-tank working on public health, women's rights, and disability rights — directly comparable mission and operating model to Vidhi.
• Indian Law Institute: Long-standing Indian institute dedicated to legal research and postgraduate legal education; comparable mandate on legal research, legislative reform support, and policy engagement with Indian government.
• Software Freedom Law Center, India (SFLC.in): India-focused non-profit doing legal research, litigation, and policy work at the intersection of technology and fundamental rights — directly comparable to Vidhi's ALTR centre and several Vidhi alumni previously worked at SFLC.in.
• Project 39A (NLU Delhi): Criminal justice research and reform initiative that competes with Vidhi's Crime & Punishment team for talent, government engagement, and policy impact on the same sensitive topics.

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution India Center: Large, well-resourced global policy research institution with an India presence; broader mandate but comparable model of producing government-relevant research reports and policy recommendations.
• National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore: Premier Indian law university with significant policy and research output and many Vidhi fellows drawn from its alumni base; comparable on legal-research and policy work but with the broader educational mandate of a university.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Global policy think-tank with a major technology and international affairs program; Vidhi ALTR staff have come from Carnegie, making it comparable on technology-law policy research and scale of operation.

Emerging players

• The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL): Justice innovation organization focused on user-centred justice and judicial reform — comparable to Vidhi's JALDI initiative on judicial transparency and access to justice, though operating across multiple jurisdictions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Vidhi_India
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKhXMC2UPLShJcZn1jKsFIQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/vidhilegalpolicy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vidhi-centre-for-legal-policy
• Instagraminstagram.com/vidhi_india

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy