Indicus Profile

ABOUT INDICUS

INDICUS ANALYTICS is a specialized economics research firm based in New Delhi. It has
been providing research inputs to Central and State ministries, institutions such as The World
Bank, UNICEF, Stanford University, Harvard University, Maryland University, USAID, Rajiv
Gandhi Foundation, CII and many other national and international institutions. Key decision-
makers such as the former President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh and the Finance Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram have all referred to our work
as we cover a wide range of aspects of the Indian economy.

Media groups such as India Today and Outlook have carried cover stories based on our work.
The India Today special issue on the ‘State of the States’ is released every year in the
presence of Chief Ministers from across the country.

Constant interaction with national and international experts and our ongoing non-funded
research activities are the key factors that enable us to maintain a high quality of output. Our
persistent endeavor to keep abreast of new developments in research methodology gives us
the ability to bring out fresh insights from otherwise intractable information.

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Indicus Analytics Pvt. Ltd., Nehru House, 2nd Floor, 4-Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi-110002, Ph. 91-11-42512400, e-mail:
indic@indicus.net, www.indicus.net

SERVICES

Our Work

• Analytical Studies & Databases
• Econometric Modeling
• Monitoring & Evaluation
• Forecasting
• Indexing & Ranking
• Primary Surveys
• Informational publications

Covers a wide range of topics

• Analysis of the Indian macro-economy
• Evaluation of policies and programmes
• Education, health and socio-economy
• Women and child welfare
• Consumer demographics and consumption behavior
• Infrastructure and trade
• International and Financial sectors

For quality conscious sponsors

• International Institutions
• Academic and Research Organizations
• Governments
• Consulates and Embassies
• Industry Associations
• Consulting Organizations
• Leading international companies

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SPONSORS

International Institutions
• The World Bank • Japan Bank for International Cooperation
• European Commission
• UNICEF and UNDP

Government of India
• Reserve Bank of India • Ministry of Small Scale Industries
• Twelfth Finance Commission • Ministry of Panchayati Raj

Academia
• Harvard University • University of Newcastle, UK
• Stanford University • Social Science Research Center, Berlin

Companies
• IKEA • Max New York Life
• VISA • Monsanto
• Microsoft • McKinsey & Company

Media
• India Today Group • Indian Express (Delhi) Group
• The Outlook Group • Business Standard

Associations & Others
• Confederation of Indian Industry • Rajiv Gandhi Foundation
• 3i Network of IIM (Ahmedabad), IIT • PHDCCI
(Kanpur) and Infrastructural
development financial corporation (IDFC)

To get a detailed list of sponsors please visit our website:
http://www.indicus.net/Research/Home/Sponsors/

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INDICUS PREMIUM DATABASES

Indicus Premium Databases, a division of Indicus Analytics specializes in developing
information products on different aspects of the Indian market & economy. Presently there
are two sets of products under its Skyline series & Landscape series. These have found
an increasing demand with several national and international companies.

Market Skyline of India 2008-09

Provides information on various demographic, socio-economic, market related characteristics
of consumers at various geographical levels. Broadly focusing upon the rural and urban
markets at the District and Block levels, this set of publications is designed to help marketers
in identifying & reaching out to their target markets and provide relevant inputs to policy
makers. The publications include the following:

District Profile 2008 (Covering 593 Districts of India across all states)

Block Profile 2006 (Over 5000 blocks, rural and urban locations)

• •
Income Distribution Market Size
• •
Savings Spread Asset Penetration
• •
Expenditures Demography
• •
Growth SEC Profile

City Skyline of India 2008-09

A unique attempt at looking beyond the 20-city market syndrome, this publication looks at
the top 112 cities as places to Earn, Invest and Reside-in. The publication has been widely
acknowledged for making available extensive market related information at one place.

• •
City Rankings Growth Rate
• •
Age Distribution SEC Profile
• •
Market Size Demography
• •
Income Distribution Psychographics

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Indian Financial Scape 2008-09

Complete financial sector information for all 593 districts. The product contains information on
(Across Income classes, Socio economic classes, Rural, Urban):

• Financial Services- Across services & • Asset Penetration
establishments
• Demography • Credit & Savings
• Market Size- GDP Banking and • Indices on Financial Service Activity,
insurance, Incomes, Savings, Affluence, Growth, Savings & Credit
Expenditure, Remittances, Rents etc. Propensity, Consumer Loan Activity,
Durables Loan, District Risk etc .

District GDP of India, 2006-07

First ever estimates of District GDP of India, 2006-07 brings out the first ever estimates on
Gross Domestic Product across sectors at district level for all states and UTs of the country.
These estimates provide information for all 593 districts in India covering important economic
indicators like GDP at current & constant prices, short term real GDP growth across sectors,
labour productivity, credit penetration in each sector etc. This database contains information
on

• District GDP across sectors at current Sectors
• Primary Sector – Agriculture, Mining
and constant prices 2006-07
• Credit Penetration in various sectors and Quarrying, Fishing, Forestry.
• Per capita GDP by economic activity at
• Secondary sector - Construction
current prices
Sector, Manufacturing Sector,
• Per worker GDP by economic activity at
Electricity,Gas,Water Supply.
current prices
• Tertiary Sector - Banking and
Insurance, Rest Of tertiary.
• Total GDP

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Housing Skyline of India 2008-09

A premium database on Indian housing sector for top 1112 cities in India, which provides
information on number of households across different income groups, Family Structure
(Nuclear, Joint and Extended families), Ownership of houses, Households across type of
dwelling units (Owned/Rented/Others/ area wise), Housing Loan amount and growth etc. and
many more.
Contains information on:

• •
Housing Demand Consumer Price Index: Housing
• •
Housing loan – latest amount Housing loan growth rate
• •
Household across income groups Number of households
• •
Family structure Rent Potential index etc.

Indian Development Landscape 2008-09

A premium socio-economic database for all districts of India, which provides information on
education, health, social empowerment, economic status, crime,demography and many more
estimated at two point in time 2001 and 2008.

Contains information on:

• •
Education Economic Status
• •
Health Demography
• •
Infrastructure Environment
• •
Empowerment Agriculture

City Skyline of India- Neighbourhood Series 2008-09

The City Skyline of India – Neighbourhood Series, is designed to help marketers and
strategists dissect the cities of India at extremely granular levels. It divides the cities into
neighbourhoods which are as small as a few square kms. Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata
have been divided into 128, 99, 102 and 141 neighbourhoods respectively. This product
brings out information on consumer demographics, disposable income, consumption
expenditure (aggregated as well as separately on major heads) and savings of households.

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MEDIA COVERAGE

Some recent Media reviews of our work:

Cities that borrow more drive consumer market (Economic Times): September 15,
2008.

“Ranking India’s 112 top population cities on consumer market growth and credit growth
show that leaders in credit growth are also, more or less, leaders in consumer market growth
as well, according to Indicus Analytics’ study, City Skyline of India 2008-09...”

Metro consumers hold on to pole position (Economic Times):
September11, 2008.

“While top metros, including Mumbai and Delhi, continue to be the largest consumer markets,
smaller cities such as Silvassa, Gandhinagar and Bokaro, to name a few, are growing at a
scorching pace, says the City Skyline of India 2008-09, a study by New Delhi-based
consulting and market information firm Indicus Analytics,...”

Cover Story- State of the States (India Today, Special Issue):
September 12, 2008

“Economic questions rarely get people involved. Exceptions are inflation and unemployment.
In that sense, these aren't abstract at all and inflation has affected electoral outcomes, and
might do so again says Bibek Debroy and Laveesh Bhandari.”

The Freedom to choose (Outlook Money): September 08, 2007.

“Outlook Money and Indicus Analytics conducted The Spirit of Freedom Survey over 1,947
respondents in 334 cities and towns during July 2008 to find out the changes that have
occurred in six major areas of personal finance.”

Why Corruption Persists (Business Standard): September 5, 2008

“The Parliamentary Committee investigating the cash-for-votes drama has sought and got a
month’s extension to complete its inquiry. Meanwhile the aam aadmi, to use a clichéd word
popularised in this regime, didn’t need this TV show of notes to complete his own inquiry —
he already knows that the public system is flush with money.. says Sumita Kale, Chief
Economist, Indicus Analytics”

CM's to TATA, Drive in (Indian Express): August 27, 2008.
“Tired of the long delay in getting unhindered use of land for the Nano plant, Ratan Tata has
threatened to pull out.... This is all well-known, as is also quite well-known that the genesis of
the problem has more to do with inadequate compensation than the farmers’ emotional
connect with land. But another interesting development has occurred around the threats...
says Laveesh Bhandari, Director Indicus Analytics.”

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STUDIES - A GLIMPSE

Health

• Studies on Health Care in India (Liberty Institute)

Three issues are dealt with in this study, which seeks to understand the major accessibility,
and usability issues that are hindering many from accessing quality health care. The first
module looks at the health sector through the perspective of the user. It seeks to understand
the patterns of ailments, accessing health care, and financing of health care by households
among others. Next (in the second module), the attempt is to objectively rate and rank the
major states of India on the basis of health status and health care access. This is done on the
basis of an index of health care developed at the state-level. The index would be based on
variables that incisively inform us about status of health care (health expenditure,
accessibility, utilization, prevalence of diseases etc.). The third module investigates the micro
issues that are shaping the character of the health sector and the direction it would take in
the coming future. This entails looking at the overall status of health care, present regulatory
regime governing the health sector, and the logic of government providing health service in
India.

• Review of Poor Women’s Reproductive Health in India (The World Bank)

The study contributed to an assessment and understanding of the current and recent patterns
of women’s reproductive health particularly amongst the poor, investigated the reasons
behind these patterns, and attempted to understand the impact of poverty/ inequality on
family health and nutritional status. It included a comprehensive literature review of existing
research on women’s reproductive health, tabulation of women’s reproductive health
indicators at the national and sub-national level and multivariate analyses using cross-
sectional data from the late 1990s.

• Health Expenditure of the Elderly in India (School of Public Health, Harvard University)

This study used the National Health Accounts approach to refine existing estimates of health
expenditures on the elderly in three states of India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Punjab)
and all India for the period 1995-96.

• Review of Costs and Financing of Reproductive Health Services: Case of India (Institute of
Policy Studies, Sri Lanka)

Analysis of NSS and NFHS data on national household health expenditure and utilization
survey to obtain estimates of the out-of-pocket expenditures/costs on reproductive health
and their distribution, and overall utilization of reproductive health services by type of
provider and associated benefit incidence analysis.

• Health Care Across Public and Private Sectors (School of Public Health, Harvard
University)

This study explored the determinants of health care utilization across public and private
sectors in India, by level of care. It used nested-multinomial logit modeling approach to
explore the pattern of utilization by level of care. The econometric approach was developed in
consultation with Professors Ajay Mahal and Peter Berman.

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• Access to Services and Expenditure on Health in Uttar Pradesh- The Poor and Not So Poor
(The Futures Group, USAID)

The objective of the study was two-fold: firstly, to bring forth various issues related to access
to health care and expenditures incurred on it, especially by the poor and secondly, to study
how women's reproductive health requirements are fulfilled. The study utilized responses
from a survey carried out in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Education

• Private Schools Serving Low-Income Families (University of Newcastle upon Tyne)

This is part of an international research project that is operating in five countries viz., Ghana,
Nigeria, Kenya, India and China. The overall aim is to increase our understanding of the ways
in which the educational needs and aspirations of low-income families in developing countries
are served by education.

• Monitoring and Evaluation of the Pilot Study on Integrated Child Development in Madhya
Pradesh (The World Bank)

The World Bank Report on ICDS, “Reaching out to the child” has emphasized an integrated
and life cycle approach to child development and basic education of children. A pilot study has
been initiated in Bajna block of Ratlam district in Madhya Pradesh for convergent planning for
children (from pre-natal to 11 years). The overall monitoring exercise attempts at a better
understanding of how convergence can be achieved in a sustainable manner and whether
such planning is an effective tool towards better child development.

• Equity in School Participation and Completion (The World Bank)

The primary objectives of the study were to identify the constraints faced by socially and
economically disadvantaged children in schooling participation and completion and to
ascertain the changes that have been taking place since the mid-eighties across the country.

• Studies in Educational Attainment (UNICEF)

The study aims at capturing ten different aspects of education which include gender, caste
and religious differentials, individual characteristics impacting educational attainment,
evaluation of DISE data, Millennium Development Goals in education, impact of school
infrastructure and incentives on retention and educational attainment etc.

• Time Usage of Energy Constrained Households and Education (Stanford University)

The study aims at bringing out the differences in the time use pattern as a household moves
from being energy constrained to non-constrained. The study involves analysis of household
members’ time budget, its allocation among various tasks and how difficulties in access to
energy affect time allocation towards education and learning activities. The impact on
education is then quantified.

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Socio Economic Profile

• Scaling up of the Social Protection Index for Committed Poverty Reduction (Halcrow
Group Limited)

The primary objective of this study was to construct an internationally comparable Social
Protection Index (SPI) that provides a realistic summary of the overall level of social
protection activities in India. The SPI provides a summary measurement tool of the extent to
which Asian and Pacific countries provide welfare, labour market, social security, health
insurance, micro-credit, child protection, targeted education and health support programs to
their citizens, and especially those living below the poverty line. The SPI was designed to be a
starting point for diagnostic evaluations of national Social Protection (SP) programs, to enable
the monitoring of changes in SP provision over time, and to facilitate international
comparisons of SP provision. The SPI, conceptually based on the Human Development index
(HDI), was derived from four component indicators (SP expenditure, SP coverage, SP
distribution/ poverty targeting and SP impact on incomes). Analysis of various household
surveys was conducted to understand the status of social protection in India.

• Survey of Religious Institutions in India (University of Cambridge)

A survey of over 550 religious institutions across seven states of India was conducted for the
Spiritual Research Project of the Faculty of Economics, St. Catharine’s College, and University
of Cambridge. The primary objective of this survey was to understand religious and non-
religious services provision being provided by religious organizations in India covering the
period 1990-2006.

• An Integrated Community based Initiative for the promotion of Child Rights in the carpet
belt of Uttar Pradesh : A Baseline Survey( IKEA)

The ‘Bal Adhikar Pariyojna’, aimed at addressing the root cause of child labour has been
implemented in 500 villages in Jaunpur, U.P. by UNICEF and IKEA since 2000. The expansion
of the Project has been proposed to be undertaken in a phased manner. In the initial phase
(2007-2012) an additional 1500 villages of Jaunpur, Mirzapur and Bhadoi districts, along with
the existing 500 villages of Jaunpur district would be covered under a two-pronged strategy.
With a view to enabling measurable outcomes and a meaningful evaluation of the various
interventions under the expanded project, Indicus is conducting a baseline survey of the
villages to be covered under the IKEA-UNICEF initiative in the proposed project districts of
Mirzapur, Jaunpur and Bhadoi in Uttar Pradesh covering 1500 villages and over 10,000
households.

• District Level Deprivation in the New Millennium (Rajiv Gandhi Foundation)

This study identified the worst districts in India with respect to socio-economic indicators.
The identification in this exercise was therefore based on six indicators - income poverty
(poverty ratios), hunger, infant mortality rate, immunization, literacy rate and enrollment
ratios. The results have been published as a book by Konark Publishers, New Delhi.

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• Socio-Economic Profiling of Kolab and Indravati Regions in Orissa (Japan Bank for
International Cooperation)

A detailed socio-economic profiling of the two regions in one of the most backward parts
(Koraput and Kalahandi districts) of the country has been carried out using both primary
survey as well as secondary data. The study identifies both social and economic
characteristics and activities that are common across these regions. It also provides
directions on raising local participation in various socio-economic activities in general and on
the operation and maintenance of social and physical infrastructure in particular.

• Monitoring and Evaluation of the Women and Child Development Programme Undertaken
by UNICEF and Government of Uttar Pradesh (IKEA)

The overall objective of the above-mentioned programme, which is being implemented since
year 2000 under the name Bal Adhikar-IKEA Initiative, is to eliminate child labour among
carpet weaving communities in a group of villages in Jaunpur district of UP. Since its
initiation, 300 additional villages have been covered in its ambit and now a further expansion
is being considered by including another 500 odd villages. The study assessed the impact of
the various program objectives and components and outlined the strategy required for a
sustainable replication.
Indicus has been given the task of assessing the overall program objectives, sub-objectives,
outcomes as well as inputs.

• Socio-Economic Appraisal of BT Cotton Farming (Monsanto)

Aimed at a scientific investigation of the benefits of BT Cotton and criticisms leveled against
its adoption, the results of this appraisal should enable informed decisions with respect to the
greater use of BT Cotton. The survey addressed more than 10,000 farmers across 460
villages in 7 states of India regarding their usage of genetically modified crops, incomes,
health, education and gender empowerment related choices.

Water & Sanitation

• Mapping Potential Water Utilities (Water and Sanitation Program, South Asia)

Study on creating urban water utilities in the states of Uttaranchal, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka and Kerala. The study involved using GIS with economic and demographic
information as well as exploring various criteria that would make regional water utilities stable
and financially sustainable in each of the five states.

• Scenarios for Meeting the Millennium Development Goals in the Rural Water Supply and
Sanitation Sector in India (The World Bank)

There are many different aspects of water supply and sanitation (WSS) that are of policy
interest – these include access, coverage, costing, institutional structure, strengths and
capabilities, aspects of local governance, investment requirements etc. Indicus Analytics
assisted in the development of an action plan for the World Bank Water and Sanitation
Program by conducting a study that brought together the current status as well as required
investments in the Rural WSS sector to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

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• Public & Private Garbage Removal Services in India- Impact on the Environment & Private
Response (Liberty Institute)

Total waste generated in urban India is increasing at a rate higher than urban population
growth and poor public provision for collection and disposal of household waste is becoming
more and more conspicuous. Indicus conducted a study to investigate the implications of poor
public provision on health and environment and examined the functioning of the largely
informal private sector activity in waste disposal services. Recognizing the importance of
individual initiative and designing policy around it would be the best solution to tackle the
increasingly unhygienic conditions in the cities.

Governance & States

• The State of The States- India’s Best and Worst States (India Today)

The exercise is an attempt to find out which of India's states offer its citizens the best
opportunities both to earn as well as to live in. The study ranks states across various
parameters such as prosperity, governance, health, education, consumer market, agriculture,
infrastructure and investment. In addition to inter-state comparisons the study also analyses
which states made the most of liberalization and which fell away. An annual feature of India
Today since 2003, the study has been adding to the ranking every year aspects of
development such as district rankings 2003, forecasting of states development for the year
2020 etc.

• Economic Freedom Index, 2004 (Friedrich Neumann Stiftung & Rajiv Gandhi Foundation)

This study deals with the measurement of economic freedom in different states of India. This
study brings together about 50 different measures that, in our view, reflect various aspects of
economic freedom for an individual and for an entrepreneur. The measures when aggregated
reveal the levels of economic freedom in the largest 20 states of India.

• Rating Cities for Living and Retirement (The Outlook Group)

The study involved rating and ranking the top 40 cities in India. It was carried out by using
secondary data as well as conducting a survey across cities. The final ratings were based on
more than a hundred parameters across 10 major categories.

• Regional Inequality in India: A Fresh Look (University of California, Santa Cruz)

There are concerns that regional inequality in India has increased after the economic reforms
of 1991. This concern has been supported by various statistical analyses and Professor
Nirvikar Singh (UCSC) along with Indicus showed that the conclusions are sensitive to what
measures of attainment are used. In particular, human development indices do not show the
same increase in regional inequality.

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• Peoples’ Expectations from the State in the Context of a Globalizing Indian Economy
(National Foundation For India)

A survey was conducted by Indicus to capture people’s expectations of the Indian State under
the project ‘Globalization and the Indian State’. An all-India representative survey of 7500
households in seven states was conducted. Respondents were queried on their expectations
from the State in terms of the various services being provided/ensured/facilitated by it and
their expectations of the state in terms of supporting or substituting markets.

Agriculture, Industry & Service

• India Labour Report: The Employability Issue, 2007 (TeamLease)

The issue of employment growth and employability gap of the Indian labour force is studied in
detail. Employability of an individual is seen to depend on the knowledge and skills
possessed; the attitude towards employment, and the economic context within which
employment is availed. The challenge of employability is not just limited to the persons
unemployed but also includes persons who are sub-optimally employed. The report maintains
that employability is inextricably linked to the prevailing human resource development regime
in India. It brings out the degree of unemployability among the Indian youth based on
quantitative information and then proceeds to estimate their training requirements - providing
a cost to such training as well. Before turning to India specific solutions to the unemployability
issues the report takes a stock of the global experience in the field.

• Public enterprises, government policy and impact on competition - the case of Steel and
Petroleum Refining (Competition Commission of India)

It is increasingly becoming quite clear that greater levels of competition in the manufacturing
sector are in the country’s long-term interest. What was at one time recognized as a liberal
text-bookish solution is today become the accepted argument for ensuring long term
sustainable and inclusive growth. In this liberal regime it is not clear what role are the PSEs
playing in improving competition levels in the country. It is therefore essential to better
understand the role and the impact of the public sector given the degree and type of
competition levels prevailing in the Steel Production and Petroleum Refining. The link between
public sector presence in these sectors and competition levels need to be better understood
with the triangulation of public sector presence, industry structure, and extraneous factors
that aid or impede competition. Two aspects therefore need to be better understood –
creation of benefits (or productivity) and their distribution (various components of value
added – profits, wages etc.). The study aims at achieving these objectives by putting
together the most credible and up-to-date data and information on India’s two major sectors
in manufacturing public sector enterprises i.e., Steel and Petroleum Refining and comparing
their performance with that of their peers.

• White Papers on ICT Sector (Microsoft)

This white paper series consists of a series of papers penned by the most respected thinkers
on issues related to maximizing the contribution of the information and communication
technologies in India’s equitable and sustaianable development. Issues covered include ICT
for development, IPRs and ….., technology neutrality and opportunities for all, etc. The
papers are overseen by Indicus, penned by sector experts, and sponsored by Microsoft.

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• Mechanism to mitigate SME Forex Risk (MMTC)

The strengthening of the Indian Rupee vis-à-vis major international currencies has adversely
impacted many Indian exporters, especially SMEs. The high cost & low transaction size results
in a situation where SMEs cannot afford to mitigate exchange rate risk and financial
institutions are not interested in catering to their needs. This paper develops a mechanism
which enables SMEs to mitigate exchange rate derived risk in a manner that is sustainable &
scalable, is simple for the SMEs to incorporate in their decision making, and can be made
available widely and easily to them at a low cost. Appropriate role of financial institutions
(banking system), EXIM Bank, as well as the Ministry of Commerce is also suggested.

• Insolvency Law for Small Business (Friedrich Neumann Stiftung & RGF)

An exit route is vital for the healthy growth of the industrial sector - Professor Bibek Debroy,
Mr. Sanjay Sen and Indicus has developed an insolvency law, a framework which will provide
small business an exit route.

• Study on the Small and Medium Enterprise Market (India Development Foundation &
DFID)

Indicus Analytics, along with Professor Shubhashis Gangopadhyay of IDF, looked at the
sectoral variations related to the financing and development of SMEs in India. The study
identifies critical inputs for policy formulation that can deepen the positive impacts on the
smaller firms and the employment effects of increased SME competitiveness.

• Small Business Bankruptcy in India (Friedrich Neumann Stiftung & RGF)

Under the guidance of Professor Bibek Debroy, Indicus Analytics conducted a study on the
existing bankruptcy procedures for small-scale industry in India. The study documented the
effects of poor procedures resulting in a high degree of economic inefficiency. It has been
published as a book titled “Small-Scale Industry in India: Large Scale Exit Problems”.

Investment

• State Partnership with Chhattisgarh: Programming Mission (Ace Global & European
Commission)

The European Commission – Chhattisgarh Partnership aims at accelerating the all-round
development of the state, which requires a good understanding of the socio-economic and
administrative realities in Chhattisgarh. This study seeks to enhance the design of the
partnership such that the desired aims are achieved.

• Comparison of Investment Performance and Perceptions (CUTS)

This monograph analyses civil society’s views on FDI in seven different project countries.
These countries include Bangladesh and India in the South Asian region, South Africa, Zambia
and Tanzania in Africa, Brazil in Latin America and Hungary in Eastern Europe. It is based on
the papers prepared by country researchers in the seven countries and secondary data made
available from many different sources.

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Consumer Economics & Markets

• Study on Marketing Awareness of Water Saving Measures and Treadle Pumps
(International Development Enterprises- India)

The study involves the identification of those farmers across the country who are most likely
to (i) need treadle and micro diesel pumps (ii) benefit from their use and (iii) be able to afford
these pumps. It identifies the socio-economic characteristics of such farmers, pinpoints the
motivating factors for such farmer households and thereby finds directions for marketing
strategy for the future.

• The Credit-Life Insurance Market (Max New York Life)

The objective of the study was to estimate the total size of the credit market. Secondary data
from many different sources was analyzed for an appreciation of the different types of credit,
given by different firms and for different purposes. A survey was conducted on about 500
potential borrowers to understand their motivation for purchasing credit-life insurance, and an
analysis was carried out of the finance company professionals by way of a qualitative survey
to gauge their interest in marketing this product currently unavailable in India.

• Rural Markets in India (Economist Intelligence Unit)

The EIU, through its Indian subsidiary International Market Assessment, and Indicus Analytics
conducted a joint study on the attributes and potential of Indian rural markets.

• The Size of the Indian Market: Beyond 2000 (Reebok India Company)

Confused by the mass of contradicting numbers from different sources, the company
approached Indicus Analytics for a comprehensive study to determine the characteristics of
India’s affluent, its middle class, their consumption patterns and to forecast their evolution.

Telecom

• Assessing the Telecom Regulatory Environment of India (LIRNEasia)

The purpose of this study was to conduct the TRE assessment in India with the help of a
stakeholder survey, to collect relevant sector performance indicators and to provide a
comprehensive report analyzing the data in the context of the policy/regulatory background
as well as sector specific indicator data.

ICT2 - Study on the trends in public and private investments in ICT R&D in China, India and
Taiwan, and on the globalisation of R&D and the competitiveness of their innovation systems
in ICT (ongoing; ICEG European Centre: http://www.icegec.hu/eng/index.htm for its client
Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, DG Joint Research Centre, European
Commission)

The overall objective of the project is to provide a clear view, on the dynamics of ICT R&D in
India, China and Taiwan, and on how the interrelation of ICT technological innovation, ICT
sector business models, national conditions and international trends (such as globalisation,
trade, comparative growth patterns, etc.) result in a global distribution of ICT R&D activity.
Indicus is leading the India component.

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• An evaluation of different models for the issuance of licenses for service provision and
frequencies (LIRNEasia)

Few developing countries have created workable conditions for competition in the
mobilespace, especially the equitable and efficient allocation of frequencies, towers and
related infrastructure and mobile number portability. This project will study the various trade
offs and incentive structures created by the various mechanisms of allocations of licences and
frequencies in the telecom sector. International examples will be analysed for the purpose of
arriving at the “best” allocation mechanism.

• White paper on Enabling Equity and Efficiency through Auctions in India (Liberty Institute)

The distribution of scarce resources with alternate uses is an economic problem and auctions
can provide a market solution to sourcing the most efficient producer/buyer. Since the
outcome of the auction determines the market structure, it is important that the process is
conducted with care. Auctions have been used in many instances to solve the issue of
allocation, however not always successfully. Auctions should be designed in a manner that
facilitates entry, gives a level ground for established players and new entrants and
discourages collusion and signaling amongst bidders. The white paper examines the relevance
of auctions in the context of resource allocation in India. While examples and case studies
from around the world will be used to illustrate the applications, the case of spectrum
allocation in India will be taken up in depth, in the context of the ongoing debate on the
subject.

• White paper on Value Added Services on Mobile for India (IAMAI)

Despite rising tele-density, average revenue per user has been dropping on the use of
mobiles, calling for the need to raise revenues through Value Added Services (VAS). Though
currently the main focus has been on services connected to entertainment, there is wide
scope for enhancing the services provided. However, there are many issues to be resolved
before the full potential can be exploited, that can benefit the end users to the maximum -
ensuring greater rationality in revenue sharing between operators and content developers,
issues of copyright protection, developing content that addresses the needs of all segments of
the population and makes significant contribution to raising economic efficiency, working
towards a focused WAP strategy etc. The main objectives of the white paper are as follows:

To show that when VAS growth is unhindered, a large range of services are possible for the
benefit of all – providers, consumers, government and consequently the overall economy.
To precisely identify the cause behind the market failure.
To point out and the possible solutions, with minimal regulatory or policy intervention by the
government.

• White Paper on Accelerating usage of electronic payment option in India and Pakistan
(VISA International)

While the benefits of electronic payments are numerous, the growth of electronic payments
has special ramifications in developing countries where financial systems are often at
elementary levels. This study looks after the growth and value of electronic payment in India
and Pakistan

16

• White paper on Location Based Services on Mobile in India (IAMAI)

The rise in connectivity has given a substantial boost to the growth potential of the economy
with enhanced efficiency as people and information can be accessed at a touch of a button.
Technology has transformed the cell phone from being a mere phone, as it has become a
medium for contact, information and entertainment. Revenue models are increasingly looking
at value added services and the potential for Location Based Services is large in a country like
India. The main objectives of the paper are to

To assess the relevance of mobile applications focused on location features in the Indian
market
To identify specific applications/services that would be of importance to the user e.g. points of
interest, navigation, locator etc. especially in the India-specific context of a large informal
sector
To emphasize how LBS can help India meet its objective of growth with equity
To examine the current shortcomings with regard to infrastructure and technology
To make recommendations for the way ahead to exploit the full potential of LBS in India.

• White paper on Potential of Alternate Payment Systems in Rural India (INTREX)

Significant constraints of access to infrastructure, markets and information make rural India a
formidable marketing challenge, it is a challenge that yields high returns through volume. It is
the lack of opportunities that prevents low incomes from being converted into purchasing
power. With the National E-governance Plan looking to connect one in every six villages
through Common Service Centers, these barriers are being removed. The main objectives of
the white paper are to investigate the revenue generating capacity of rural kiosks, in
particular of the CSCs and evaluate the potential for alternate payment systems that will
increase the spread and usage of the kiosks.

Others

• COI Program (Microsoft)

This mission involves supporting Microsoft Corporation’s PR activities in India by providing it
with the necessary research and knowledge support. Indicus provides to Microsoft
information, research support, research on economic policy and development matters. It also
provides daily inputs to Microsoft managers on the development sector trends and the path
that local, state and central governments are taking where development objectives are
concerned.

17

• India Economic Reforms Impact Study (CRISIL)

Ever since the economic reforms of 1991, there have been debates in the policy circles
regarding the efficacy of the reforms. The obvious questions that have been raised are,
whether there has been any success if at all of these reforms. The 1991 reforms of India, is
for all to know, was a clear departure from the policy regime followed in the past, with
increasing participation from the private sector. This study deals with analyzing the changes
and reforms initiated by the Government and the success achieved. This has been analyzed
comparing the infrastructure and socio-economic development of the country, both pre and
post reforms. The study also extends to analyzing the various policy initiatives in capital
markets, housing & insurance sector, banking sector, financial sector, rural finance and
pension sector since 1991.

• Efficiency and Cost Effectiveness of Food Security Programs (The World Bank)

While evaluating the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the Food Security programmes, the
study finds that the Public Distribution System should be expanded and better targeted to
reach the poor. Monitoring of the PDS shops and ensuring accountability to the public are
vital, while a more decentralized system will work more effectively to achieve the goal of
providing food security. Another important aspect of reform lies in improving the functioning
of the Food Corporation of India as it covers a better geographical spread of both purchases
and off take.

• Constraints to Growth of the Food Processing Industry (ISAP and USAID)

The study analyzed the policy and the legal structures that translate into administrative
procedures and rules, which in turn affect the free movement of goods across state borders.
The analysis therefore looks into policies, laws, case laws, administrative rules, regulations
and procedures. This helps in identifying the specific constraints that have prevented India’s
food processing industry of achieving higher growth rates.

• A System for Evaluating the States’ Devolution of Powers to its Panchayati Raj Institutions
(Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Govt. of India)

This study puts forward a system for evaluating the performance of state governments in
strengthening their Panchayati Raj Institutions by devolution of funds, finance, and
functionaries. (in association with V.N. Alok, IIPA, New Delhi.)

• More Rural Roads = Fewer Villages (Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies)

This study takes the view that by improving infrastructure, especially road infrastructure, the
government would inadvertently create conditions where the number of villages would fall. In
other words, not only would the government’s fisc be affected positively, but it would also
lead to better lifestyles for the masses.

18

INTERNET INITIATIVES

Indicus Netlabs
(www.Raftaar.in)
Indicus NetLabs is our latest initiative at making information technology accessible in local
languages. Raftaar-The ‘Hindi Search Engine’ () is the first integrated solution aimed at
making Internet usable, user friendly and useful.

Indicus Netlabs is a team of computer professionals and researchers each with a passion and
will to provide innovative solution to Indian language computing. Together the team has rich
experience in various technology environments and development frameworks as well as an
understanding of the need of the “common man”.

LiveMobile Communications
(www.livem.in)

LiveM is a mobile VAS company engaged in providing end-to-end solutions in SMS, IVR and
WAP services. LiveM forms a very important link in the mobile eco-system by way of
providing effective solutions across several operators, aggregators and handset
manufacturers. Our content and application services have been deployed across an effective
base of users.

JuxtConsult
(www.juxtconsult.com)
JuxtConsult is unraveling the net users and netsumers (consumers with access to the net) in
India through an annual series of syndicated research reports like India Online and NRI
Online.

It is also assisting and advising online marketers on effectively tracking and measuring the
performance of their branding and marketing efforts, using an interesting and proprietary
brand tacking model called BrandMomentuxTM. The tracking milestones involve all possible
stages of the marketing process, from attracting, to converting, to servicing, to retaining
customers.

Indicat
(www.indicat.com)
Indicat.com is a web-based, easy to use, comprehensive database on India. It features data
as detailed as upto the district level. Indicat.com is an indicator - an Indicator designed to
bring storehouses of reliable and premium information to its users at the click of a mouse. It
covers sectors of the Indian economy ranging from socio-economics to consumer
demographics. To mention a few, Indicat.com has premium data on India’s macroeconomy,
education, health, law and order, and consumer demographics.

It features all india, state-level and district-level consumer market information across sectors.
With its special focus on upcoming sectors like Automobile and Housing, Indicat.com offers
data that is invaluable to the strategy formulation process.

19

TEAM (CORE MEMBERS)

Laveesh Bhandari
Dr. Bhandari completed his Ph.D. in Economics from Boston University, USA, in 1996. Prior to
this he got his MA in Economics specializing in Finance and Industrial Organization from the
same university. His thesis received the Best Thesis in International Economics award by the
EXIM Bank of India in 1996. He was also awarded the Hite Fellowship for his work on
International finance. Dr. Bhandari began his career as a Consultant for Manhattan (now
Brookdale) Funds, New York and Boston, USA, where he was working on the valuation
methodologies of derivative securities. He joined the National Council of Applied Economic
Research (NCAER), New Delhi, as a Senior Economist in 1997. At NCAER he led research
teams for various studies in the Industry and Infrastructure division. He was a visiting faculty
at the IIT, Delhi and also worked as Managing Editor of the Journal of Emerging Market
Finance. Dr. Bhandari is the founder Director, Indicus Analytics.

Sumita Kale
Sumita is a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pune, with an M.Phil. in Economics of
Developing Countries from University of Cambridge, UK. Sumita has worked at various
reputed institutions such as Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, National Insurance
Academy, SQW Associates (UK) and the Department of Economics, University of Pune; she is
currently Chief Economist at Indicus Analytics.

Sanjay Tiwari
Mr. Tiwari is an expert from the advertising, marketing and branding field and possesses a
rich experience in consulting many renowned media agencies. Mr. Tiwari graduated in
Business Management from Rotterdam School of Management, Netherlands. He has been
instrumental in assisting and bringing out valuable and path breaking market and brand
research related products, such as the Indicus Market Skyline of India and the Indicus
Consumer Tracker. He currently heads JuxtConsult a joint Venture of Indicus Analytics and
Webchutney Studio.

Amit Sinha
Amit is a PGDM from IIM Ahmedabad. Prior to this he got his M.Tech from IIT Chennai and
B.E from REC Nagpur. As the President of Indicus Analytics, he is heading the Marketing and
Products division. Amit is the cofounder and also served as the Director – Consulting and
Operations at Indian Agribusiness Systems Pvt. Ltd. Prior to this he was associated with
Tecnova India Private Limited, and Holtec Consulting Private Limited as Management
Consultant. Amit has a wide range of experience of over 20 years in the field of Strategy
Formulation and Implementation, Economic and Financial Feasibility Analysis, Market analysis,
Market Research, Cost Analysis, Business and operations Plan Development, Economic and
policy research, Sector studies, Market development services and Commodity Research
management. Prior to embarking on his consulting career, he worked in the manufacturing
sector in production and in sales.

20

Peeyush Bajpai
Mr. Bajpai completed his Masters in International Business from the University of Lucknow.
Prior to this he pursued B.E from REC Jamshedpur. He has worked extensively on education,
health and the social sector and has conducted many in-depth studies at the sub-state; state
and country level, assessing various aspects of education such as enrollment, attainment,
expenditure on education and beneficiaries of public subsidies. Mr. Bajpai spearheaded quot;The
Market Skyline of India-2002quot;, a market information product that identified the top 68 city
markets. He presently heads Indicus NetLabs a new subsidiary of Indicus Analytics.

S.V. Divvaakar
A Mechanical Engineer from India's premier institution -IIT Delhi (Class of 1982) he has 20
years of experience in India and overseas, extending from project management, trade and
investment strategies, setting up joint ventures and handling international trade-especially in
European and Middle East Markets. He is a recognized expert on Trade, Investment and
Competition Policy, and has been commissioned on several projects by international
development agencies such as UNCTAD, ITC and the European Commission, besides leading
international Companies.

Pankaj Agrawal
A Mechanical Engineer from Delhi College of Engineering and a postgraduate from IIM-
Ahmedabad, Pankaj Agrawal coordinate the market information services practice at Ace
Global. He has rich experience in market research, consumer analysis and profiling, with a
first-hand knowledge spanning several industrial, business-to-business products and
consumer products categories, and has undertaken several studies in India and abroad
including for World Bank, UNIDO, European Commission, and USAID. He is also the National
Expert with UNIDO for Montreal Protocol related activities.

Siddhartha Dutta
Siddhartha Dutta is an M. Phil from the Centre for the Study of Regional Development,
Jawaharlal Nehru University, currently pursuing his Ph.D from the same University. He has
worked extensively on rural water supply and sanitation, and inter-state disparities. He has
also looked at the evolution of service sector in India and social infrastructure in urban areas.
Presently he is working as Assistant vice President - Marketing at Indicus.

Payal Malik
Ms. Malik completed her Master of Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati,
USA. Prior to that, she completed her M. Phil. from Delhi School of Economics, Delhi. She has
been a consultant at NCAER in addition to other national and international consulting work
that she has done. She is Advisor at Indicus Analytics. She has almost 12 years of policy
research experience on the issues of market structure and regulatory design for sectors like
power, telecommunication and water. More generally her research is focused on the links
between technology, economy and society in the infrastructure sector.

---------------------

21

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