Our Mission
CDF is a research centre. We believe that India is on a long journey to become a fully digital economy. And this will present a continuous stream of challenges and opportunities. Therefore the central theme of our research is how digitisation is impacting or can be made to impact lives and livelihoods of people. We do research and give recommendations on markets, regulations and policies, and the possible ways to structure these to best leverage digital for the people
The Approach
Our methodology is a combination of theoretical frameworks with empirical data to offer comprehensive insights into the digital economy. We first do open ended research (both primary and secondary) into the areas of interest. This helps us focus on the specific questions for further research. To have a hypothesis around these questions, we will build an economic model to give us a framework.
To build and test our framework, we will do extensive secondary research through journals, academic research papers, industry reports, government and private data. If required, we will also do primary data collection through in-person interviews or online surveys, to provide a ground-truth for testing our theories.
Thereafter we will come out with our findings, which are open to the ecosystem to analyse, criticize and provide feedback on. Based on this open feedback mechanism, we will come out with our papers and continue to engage with the ecosystem for dissemination.
The inquiries are analytical, without any pre-determined bias, multi-dimensional and evidence-based. Towards this end, we product academic research papers, white papers, policy briefs, Op-Eds and articles. We are also active in the ecosystem through conducting conferences, roundtables and capacity building workshops.
CDF is a research centre within India Development Foundation (IDF), a private non-profit research organisation setup as a Trust in 2003. We raise funds for sponsorships of research projects.
We do not make any commitments regarding the methodology or outcome of research projects, nor do we undertake any research based on a pre-conceived result or position. All research papers would be public documents to be freely used by governments, businesses, media and other stake holders as well as international entities.
Governing Board
R. Chandrashekhar
Chairperson
I hold an Engineering degree from IIT Bombay, and a Masters degree in Computer Science from Penn State University. I have held positions of Secretary, Department of Electronics and IT; Secretary, Telecom; Chairman, Telecom Commission of India; President National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM). I was conferred the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration. I have over 30 years of experience in ICT project and program implementation, including 20 years in policy formulation & implementation at the national and state level.
Shubhashis Gangopadhyay
Vice Chairperson
I am an economist with a Ph.D. in Economics from Cornell University and a B.A. in Economics from Presidency College, Kolkata. My research is in policy and development economics, and I have done theoretical and empirical work on both. My current focus is on laws and institutions, and I am in charge of the Ambedkar Centre for Law and Economics at IDF.
Subho Ray
Convenor
I have been the full time President of the Internet and Mobile Association of India since 2006. IAMAI is the only representative body of internet and mobile data businesses in India, and the association strives to make broadband access ubiquitous and to create a favourable environment for digital businesses to operate. Before joining IAMAI, I worked for 10 years at the Confederation of Indian Industry, where my last assignment was as Director, ICT sector. I hold a Doctorate in Economic History and have been published by Routledge and Penguin.
Our team
Sumeet Swarup
Director
I have a background in Engineering and business, and have spent half my professional life in USA. I have 10 years working experience in the areas of policy making, research, fundraising and strategy. I have worked closed with various Government departments. My interest lies at the cross section of technology, research and development.
Kamlesh Kumar
Fellow
My research primarily explores the legal foundations of public policies and their impact on financial economics. With a PhD in finance, an MPhil in economics, a master's in quantitative economics, and a bachelor's in mathematics, my dedication to advancing knowledge is further reflected in my contributions to peer-reviewed journals.
Vatsalya Srivastava
Fellow
I am an applied game theorist with an undergraduate degree from the University of Delhi and graduate training in economics from Tilburg University in the Netherlands. My research interests are at the confluence of game theory, economic governance and new institutional economics
Amitayu Sengupta
Fellow
With a doctorate in economics and over 19 years of experience, I specialize in developmental economics and the digital sector. My expertise includes policy analysis, advocacy, and engagement with industry and government officials to drive impactful change. I have led research, facilitated consultations, drafted white papers. I also contribute as a freelance columnist
Sayoudh Roy
Fellow
I am an economist currently working on the cloud ecosystem and the application economy. My prior research has focused on the macroeconomics of frictions in labour and financial markets. Previously, I have served at Bowling Green State University and Carnegie India. I have a PhD in economics from Ohio State University, and an MS in quantitative economics from ISI
Isha Gupta
Fellow
I hold a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Padova, Italy, and have postdoctoral experience from both the University of Padova and Masaryk University. My research expertise includes applied microeconomics, labor, and development economics. Currently, I’m working on the impact of regulations on e-commerce focusing on investments. I previously worked as a Data Scientist at IBM India.
Piyasha Majumdar
Research Associate
I hold a master's in economics focusing on International Trade and Finance and a bachelor's in economics from Calcutta University. Previously, I worked as a Teaching Fellow and Research Assistant at Ashoka University. My research interests lie in industrial organization and platform economics, with current work on competition issues in digital and traditional sectors
Akanksha Kumari
Research Associate
I have a PGP in Public Policy with a bachelors in Electronics and Communication Engineering. I have worked as a software engineer before pursuing the policy path. My interest lies in Emerging Technologies and their impact on society for inclusive growth, and my research focuses on the role of technology in shaping India’s digital economy
Jay Gohil
Research Associate
I am a mechanical engineering graduate who transitioned into the field of public policy to tackle technological challenges from a policy perspective. As an alumnus of the Indian School of Public Policy, I am deeply passionate about the intersection of research, technology, and policy. Additionally, I am also a certified design thinker
Digvijay Singh
Research Associate
My research work focuses on economic policies and regulatory issues in the digital economy and technology sectors. With a background in mathematics and a PGP in Public Policy from the Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP), I aim to provide analytical insights to shape discussions around the evolving digital landscape
Adwithiya Kumar
Research Associate
I’m a research analyst with a master’s in economics from Loyola College and a policy degree from the Indian School of Public Policy. My background includes cost optimization in manufacturing and research on technology, sustainability, and livelihood. I’ve interned at NIPFP and the Centre for Civil Society. Outside of work, I enjoy chess and reading non-fiction
Ritu Samarwal
Associate
I support the organization’s data entry requirements and administrative duties. I have a bachelor's from Mumbai Hindi Vidyapeeth University and a diploma in finance and accounting from NIIT, Gurgaon
Strategic Research Advisory Board (SRAC)
Abhay Karandikar
I am the Director of IIT Kanpur and former Chairman of Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI). An IIT Kanpur alumnus, I served as a faculty at IIT Bombay and member of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). My research includes Wireless Networks, Digital Communications, and Rural Broadband
Ajit Balakrishnan
I am the Founder, CEO, and Principal Shareholder of Rediff.com. A graduate of IIM Calcutta, batch 1971, I was a member of the expert committee that reviewed the Information Technology Act in 2005. I personally wrote Section 79, which introduced the concept of "Intermediaries." I also chaired the IIM Calcutta Board from 2006 to 2016
Bhagwan Chowdhry
I am Professor of Finance and Executive Director of the Digital Identity Research Initiative (DIRI) at the Indian School of Business (ISB). A Ph.D. from Chicago Booth, I had a long stint at UCLA Anderson. My research areas include FinTech, Corporate Finance, and Impact Investing. I am writing a book titled "HumTech: Leveraging Technology with Humans."
D. Manjunath
I obtained my B.E. from Mysore University, M.S. from IIT Madras, and Ph.D. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1986, 1989, and 1993 respectively. I have been a faculty member in Electrical Engineering at IIT Bombay since July 1998. My research interests are in Communication Networks and Performance Analysis, focusing on the Economics of the Internet.
Gulshan Rai
I was India’s first National Cyber Security Coordinator, based at the office of the Prime Minister. Earlier, I handled responsibilities at MeitY, headed CERT India, STQC, and ERNET, and was a member of the committee that laid down the blueprint for CERT-In. I played a key role in drafting the Information Technology Act and its amendments.
Jayashree Watal
I am an Honorary Professor at the National Law University, Delhi, and an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown Law Center. I worked on intellectual property at the WTO from 2001 to 2019, facilitating negotiations on TRIPS and public health. An alumnus of Pune and Paris universities, I served as an IAS officer for over two decades.
Kiran Karnik
I chair the Boards of IIIT Delhi, HelpAge India, and ReBIT. Having worked at ISRO and Discovery, I later served as President of NASSCOM and Chairman of Satyam Computers. I have been a member of various government committees, including the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. My latest book is “Decisive Decade: India 2030.”
N. Balakrishnan
I am the Former Associate Director and currently an INSA Senior Scientist at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. I was awarded a Ph.D. by IISc in 1979 and a Padma Shri in 2002. My research spans Cyber Security, Computational Electromagnetics, and Explainable AI. I am a fellow of major Science and Engineering academies in India.
Neelam Dhawan
As a seasoned technology and business leader, I currently serve on the boards of several prominent organizations, including Royal Philips, ICICI Bank Limited, Capita Plc, Skylo Technologies, Yatra Online Inc., and IIIT Delhi. My expertise in these areas has allowed me to make valuable contributions to the strategic direction and growth of these companies.
Padma M. Sarangapani
I chair the Centre of Excellence in Teacher Education at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and led the Connected Learning Initiative (CLIx), awarded the UNESCO-King Hamad Prize for excellence in ICT in education. An alumnus of IIT Madras and Delhi University, I am also the Editor in Chief of a major reference work.
Ravi Venkatesan
I am the UNICEF Special Representative for Young People and Innovation, Founder of Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME), and a partner at Unitus Ventures. I serve on the Boards of the Rockefeller Foundation and Hitachi Ltd. I am also the former Chairman of Microsoft India and Bank of Baroda.
UB Desai
I am Professor Emeritus and Founding Director of IIT Hyderabad, and an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and Johns Hopkins. Previously, I was a Professor at IIT Bombay. I am currently the Chancellor of ICFAI University and Anurag University. My research spans Wireless, AI, and Cyber-Physical Systems, and I have authored nine monographs.
V. Kamakoti
I am a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and Associate Dean for Industrial Consultancy at IIT Madras. My areas of specialization include Computer Architecture, VLSI Design, and Secure Systems Engineering. I am a Member of the National Security Advisory Board and Chief Investigator of India's first indigenous RISCV Microprocessor – SHAKTI.
Hema Murthy
I am a faculty member at IIT Madras, where I secured my Ph.D. in 1992. A staunch advocate for Women in STEM, my research spans speech recognition and synthesis, computer networks, AI technologies, and Natural Language Processing (NLP). I strive to inspire the next generation of female engineers and researchers.
Kamlesh Bajaj
I served as the first CEO of the Data Security Council of India, a NASSCOM initiative. While in government, I led initiatives in e-Governance and digital signatures. I was also the founder Director of CERT India. An alumnus of Delhi University and McMaster University, I have also worked in TCS and NIIT University.
Pankaj Jalote
I am a Distinguished Professor and Founding Director of IIIT Delhi, an alumnus of IIT Kanpur, Penn State University, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Earlier, I was a faculty member at the University of Maryland, IIT Kanpur, and IIT Delhi. In 2020, Sage published my book “Building Research Universities in India.”
Rahul Matthan
I am a partner at Trilegal, leading the Telecom, Media, and Technology (TMT) practice. I have been closely associated with the evolution of data protection in India for over a decade. A graduate of the National Law School, I authored the book Privacy 3.0 and write a weekly column Ex Machina for Mint.
Rajeev Sangal
I am Professor and Founding Director of IIIT Hyderabad, an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and the University of Pennsylvania. I am also the former Director of IIT Varanasi and had a long stint as a faculty member at IIT Kanpur. My research spans Natural Language Processing and AI, with a focus on Universal Human Values.
Rishikesha Krishnan
I am the Director and Professor of Strategy at IIM Bangalore, an alumnus of IIT Kanpur, IIMA, and Stanford. My academic career has focused on strategy and innovation. I have served on several government committees related to innovation and was a member of the Justice Srikrishna Committee on Personal Data Protection
V Sridhar
I lead the Centre for IT and Public Policy at IIIT Bangalore. A prolific author, I have published three books and hundreds of articles on the Digital Economy. An alumnus of NITIE and the University of Iowa, I taught earlier at MDI, Gurgaon, and IIM Lucknow, focusing on technology policy.
Sudhir Krishnaswamy
I am the Vice Chancellor of the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, and Co-Founder of the Centre for Law and Policy Research. A Rhodes scholar and alumnus of NLS and Oxford, I was the Director of the School of Policy and Governance at Azim Premji University. I serve on Facebook's Oversight Board
Vakul Sharma
I am a practicing advocate specializing in Information Technology, Data Protection, and Digital Identity. I have written several books on these topics and have been nominated by the Government of India on numerous committees to review and draft important legislations and regulations related to technology and privacy.