Association for protection of Civil Rights

What Association for protection of Civil Rights does

The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) is a non-profit civil rights organization founded in 2006 and registered under the Society Registration Act 1860, headquartered in Jamia Nagar, Okhla, New Delhi, India. The organization provides pro bono litigation services, public advocacy campaigns, paralegal training programs, fact-finding field investigations, and human rights publications, all directed at marginalized and minority communities facing identity-based violence, hate crimes, and systemic discrimination. APCR's service delivery relies on a network of 1,100+ advocates, 50+ former judges, 950+ law students, and 2,100+ members, with only 1-10 paid staff, supplemented by state chapters and grassroots paralegal volunteers. The organization has produced an extensive catalog of fact-finding reports covering incidents in Haldwani, Kolhapur, Sambhal, Bihar, Haryana, Nuh-Mewat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and most recently Nashik.

APCR's business model is non-commercial and donor-funded. Revenue streams consist of individual donations from Indian citizens (eligible for 50% tax deduction under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act), membership contributions from its 2,100+ members, and pro bono legal services delivered at no charge. The organization does not disclose revenue, has no disclosed institutional grants or corporate sponsorships, and operates with no disclosed pricing for legal services. Distribution occurs through direct field operations, state chapters, an online legal aid application form, and digital/earned media channels including a presence on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Leadership is composed of legal practitioners — Yusuf Hatim Muchhala (Senior Advocate, Bombay High Court) as National President, P Usman (Karnataka High Court practitioner) as Vice President, Malik Mohtasim Khan as General Secretary, and Nadeem Khan as National Secretary. APCR is not technology-focused, does not employ proprietary AI or machine learning systems, and operates entirely within a traditional legal advocacy and human rights documentation model.

Name

Association for protection of Civil Rights

Legal name

Association for Protection of Civil Rights

Website

https://apcrindia.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

APCR is a New Delhi-based non-profit civil rights organization founded in 2006 that provides free legal aid, advocacy, paralegal training, and fact-finding investigations to marginalized and minority communities across India through a network of 1,100+ advocates and 2,100+ members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Aid and Human Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAFAB

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Civil Rights, Advocacy & Public Policy Organizations

SECONDARYBPAGAEAM

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAIAFAC

Public Defense & Legal Aid Services

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Justice System (Courts, Prosecution & Corrections)

Keywords

• Pro bono legal aid
• Human rights advocacy
• Civil rights NGO
• Fact-finding investigations
• Paralegal training programs

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, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: APCR accepts direct donations from individuals. Donors are required to share Name and PAN details for tax receipts. All contributions are eligible for 50% tax deductions under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act. Only Indian citizens can make contributions.
2. Membership Fees: Organization has 2100+ members who likely contribute membership fees to support the organization's operations.
3. Pro Bono Legal Services: Provides bono legal services to marginalized people as part of its mission; revenue generation is not the primary purpose.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

APCR provides free legal aid and pro bono litigation to marginalized and minority communities in India, alongside public advocacy campaigns for policy reform, paralegal training programs, fact-finding field investigations into human rights abuses, and the publication of human rights reports. All services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries through a national network of advocates, former judges, and volunteer paralegals.

Product overview

APCR operates as a unified non-profit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected human rights services. The core offerings include pro bono litigation services for marginalized communities, public advocacy campaigns for policy reform, paralegal training programs to build grassroots capacity, and fact-finding field visits to document human rights abuses. The organization also publishes comprehensive reports on human rights issues across India and maintains an online legal aid application system. These services work together to bridge the gap between law and justice in Indian society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pro Bono Litigation Services
• Public Advocacy Campaigns
• Paralegal Training Program
• Fact-Finding Field Visits
• Human Rights Publications
• Legal Aid Application System

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2100 members including advocates, judges, and law students working toward civil rights protection

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Amnesty International India: International human rights organization operating in India, focused on civil rights, minority rights, and advocacy campaigns. Directly comparable in mission (human rights documentation, advocacy, legal support) though at a larger and global scale.
• Human Rights Watch (India): Global human rights NGO with India operations producing investigative reports and advocacy on minority rights, hate crimes, and rule of law. Closely comparable research-driven advocacy model to APCR's fact-finding reports.
• People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL): India's premier civil liberties organization; directly comparable as a domestic NGO providing pro bono legal aid, fact-finding on rights violations, and policy advocacy. APCR and PUCL have co-authored reports (e.g., Lost Fraternity, June 2025), confirming deep overlap.
• Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI): India-based independent NGO working on human rights, access to justice, and police/judicial reform. Directly comparable advocacy focus on rule of law and marginalized communities' access to justice.
• South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre (SAHRDC): Documentation-focused human rights NGO covering South Asia including India. Comparable in producing fact-finding reports and rights-related publications for advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC): Statutory national body responsible for protecting and promoting human rights in India. Comparable in mandate (rights protection) but government-mandated and broader in scope than APCR's advocacy-and-litigation focus.
• National Commission for Minorities (NCM): Statutory body addressing minority welfare and rights in India. Comparable target constituency (religious and ethnic minorities) but operates as a government entity rather than an advocacy NGO.

Emerging players

• Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF): Coalition of Indian NGOs focused on human rights, minority rights, and civil liberties advocacy. Comparable mission to APCR with coalition-style network structure rather than direct legal service delivery.
• Jagori Rural: India-based NGO working on women's rights, legal awareness, and access to justice through paralegal training and community mobilization. Comparable grassroots paralegal-network and legal-aid service model, though with a gender-focused mandate.
• Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS): Grassroots Indian rights organization using legal mobilization, paralegal training, and fact-finding to empower marginalized groups. Comparable community-led paralegal-training and rights-documentation model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/apcrofindia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Association for protection of Civil Rights