Distinguished Research and Public-policy Think-tank

The Dialogue is a research and public-policy think-tank with a vision to drive a progressive narrative in India’s policy discourse. Founded in July 2017, we believe in facilitating policy debates at various levels to help develop a more informed citizenry.

The Dialogue’s mission is to bring policy to the people and subsequently connect them with issues that really matter in today’s world, with the long-term objective of driving reforms through informed public opinion and citizenry participation. Our primary focus is on technology, being a key driver of change in the 21st century.

At The Dialogue, we focus on communicating with impact and using innovative tools. We develop policy documents, briefs, reports, research studies, books and case studies having worked with leading institutions from India and abroad.

We have been at the forefront of the policy discourse on data privacy, information technology, fintech, competition law, telecom regulation, online gaming, emerging technologies, among others. The Dialogue has been a key voice in the larger policy discussions and have closely engaged with the government and other stakeholders, with the vision of taking this forward in a greater capacity in the coming years and beyond.

We work with research institutions, governments, media, civil societies, bilateral missions and universities to drive research, stakeholder engagement and empowerment initiatives supported by our in-house team and network of experts and advisors. The Dialogue is now recognised as a change agent in India’s policy-making process, working and engaging closely with policy-makers, corporates, academia and other relevant actors in the policy-making ecosystem.

Our stronghold in the policy ecosystem – driven by our research, conferences, publications and strong networks – enables us to deliver maximum impact.

Meet Our Advisors

The Dialogue is supported by a diverse team of experts with extensive experience with government and industry. They play a pivotal role in shaping our research initiatives, providing strategic counsel, and ensuring innovative and impactful tech policy recommendations.

Dr. Aurelien Portuese

Dr. Aurelien Portuese, Research Professor, and Founding Director of the GW Competition & Innovation Lab at The George Washington University, brings a wealth of experience. As a practicing attorney at Freshfields’ DC office, Special Editor at the Antitrust Law Journal, and a published author in prestigious journals, he is recognized for his significant contributions to antitrust. Acknowledged with nominations for the 2022 and 2019 Antitrust Writing Awards, he currently serves as the Editor of the Special Symposium “Beyond Dynamic Competition” in the ABA’s Antitrust Law Journal. In his advisory role at The Dialogue, he focuses on delivering specialized expertise, particularly in competition law and policy.

Mr. Mrutyunjay Mahapatra

Mr. Mrutyunjay Mahapatra, a luminary in the Indian Banking and Financial Technology sector, boasts a prolific career spanning over four decades. Commencing his journey at SBI in 1982, he held senior and CXO-level roles globally, contributing significantly to the establishment of new businesses like Leasing, Private Equity, and Insurance. Currently, he serves on the boards of prominent organisations, including RBIH, NSEIT, Nippon Life Insurance, Spice Money, Mayfair Hotels, and Quantum MF.

Dr. Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan

Dr. Badri Narayanan Gopalakrishnan, a Fellow at NITI Aayog, has extensive experience in economic policy analysis. He has affiliations with several universities and international organizations, and has consulted for the UN, World Bank, and others. He founded the consulting firm Infinite Sum Modelling and has published over 150 papers and 8 books.

Dr. Avik Sarkar

Dr. Avik Sarkar, faculty at Indian School of Business, is developing the India Data Portal for government data analysis and visualization. He was the former Head of Data Analytics Cell at NITI Aayog, where he developed a roadmap for data use and AI in policy making. He has been recognized as a top data scientist and LinkedIn Influencer. He advises various government committees and has over 18 years of experience in AI and data science across multiple companies.

Mr. Adnan Ahmad Ansari

Adnan Ahmad Ansari is a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and Associate VP at The Asia Group. He has worked with various sectors in India and abroad, advising them on policy, investment, and risk. He has expertise in technology and has engaged with government on key policies such as data protection, e-commerce, crypto, and social media. He has also been involved in social ventures and politics. He has a B. Tech. in mechanical engineering and a diploma in liberal arts.

Meet Our Team

At The Dialogue, our success hinges on the dedication and expertise of our young policy professionals. This core group, integrating subject matter experts seamlessly, ensures dynamic and efficient project approaches. Our team’s commitment forms the bedrock, allowing us to navigate challenges and deliver impactful results.

Kazim Rizvi

Founding Director

An important voice in India’s tech policy ecosystem, Kazim works on the intersection of technology, policy and society, with a focus on evidence-based research and discourse

Kriti Singh

Chief of Staff & Programme Manager - Online Gaming

Kriti oversees operations, research, strategic planning, and stakeholder relationships. With a journalism background, she’s dedicated to driving policy changes in the tech sector.

Akriti Jayant

Head of Communications

Akriti, with 11 years of diverse experience and a background in Journalism and Sociology, focuses on gender issues, women’s empowerment, and gender-integrated content creation.

Ayush Tripathi

Senior Programme Manager - Ecommerce, Fintech and Telecom

Ayush, specialises in E-commerce, FinTech, Telecommunication, and Digital Tax with a legal background and a strong research focus on technology policy.

Jameela Sahiba

Senior Programme Manager - Emerging Technologies

Jameela, a lawyer by training, specialises in Emerging Technology, AI, and Parliamentary outreach, leveraging her legal and legislative expertise for positive change.

Kamesh Shekar

Senior Programme Manager - Privacy, Data Governance and AI

Kamesh focuses on understanding the impact of policies and regulations on the data-driven technology ecosystem, contributing extensively to these critical fields.

Meet our Consultants and Fellows

Our strength lies in seamlessly blending inventive minds—consultants and fellows—into a catalyst for success. Fostering collaboration with subject matter experts, we thrive on efficient project execution. This unique partnership connects us across diversity, upholding unwavering commitments to excellence. The dedication and capabilities of our team propel The Dialogue towards impactful outcomes.

Dr. Viswanath Pingali

Prof. Viswanath (Vishy) Pingali, an economics faculty member at IIM Ahmedabad, specializes in competition law, digital markets, and public health research. He contributes to prestigious national and international journals. At IIMA, he teaches microeconomics, game theory, and behavioral economics, while also offering consultation services to corporations and law firms on competition and economics. With a Master’s from the Indian Statistical Institute and a PhD from Northwestern University, USA, Prof. Pingali brings extensive academic expertise to his role as a Senior Fellow- Economics at The Dialogue, focusing on specialized knowledge in competition law and policy.

Sriya Sridhar

Consultant, Privacy and Data Governance

Sriya is an experienced lawyer specialising in technology law, data protection, and fintech. Recognised in Legal 500 for Data Protection and Intellectual Property, she holds a Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe certification.

Pranav Bhaskar Tiwari

Non-Resident Fellow

Pranav specialises in tech policy with a focus on telecom, intermediary liability, and online gaming. Trained in Intellectual Property and Technology Laws, he holds the Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe credential.