India’s political consulting industry is experiencing a surge in demand as the country prepares for its upcoming Lok Sabha polls. With the 2024 general elections on the horizon, as well as balloting for key states this winter, there is a growing need for young graduates in both independent political consulting firms and party-affiliated agencies.
Institutes across the reputational spectrum, from regional professional colleges to prestigious schools like the IITs and IIMs, are seeing an increase in demand for freshers. It is estimated that over 20,000 individuals could potentially find employment in policy-related consulting in the coming months.
Leading political parties and recruitment experts have identified a number of firms hiring graduates for various roles in the run-up to the general elections. I-PAC, for example, is recruiting graduates for campaign and field operations, research and insights, data analytics and technology, and digital communications. Other firms such as Varahe Analytics, Inclusive Minds, and Nation With Namo are looking to expand their teams with young talent.
This growing demand can be attributed to what industry insiders call the “fear of missing out” (FOMO) effect. MPs and MLAs now want their own teams to manage campaign design, social media presence, digital support, ground-level research, manifesto preparation, and overall campaign execution.
Swaniti Initiative, a non-partisan organization focused on public policy, has received requests from 25-30 MPs seeking help with communication and messaging on social media. They are launching a full-time fellowship program for fresh undergraduates to gain experience in areas such as social media, governance, and policy making.
The role of social media in politics is becoming increasingly significant, as it allows politicians to understand public sentiment and convey regional and local issues directly. Language skills are also in demand, particularly regional languages.
The political consulting industry is not just limited to social media and digital specialists. Research and analytics teams provide valuable inputs for speeches and surveys, as well as design slogans and manifestos. Field teams gather on-ground intelligence and feedback on public sentiment from every gram panchayat and booth.
Managing a team of 8-10 members for an MP candidate can cost anywhere from Rs 5-10 lakh/month, with higher costs for teams consisting of young graduates from tier 1 colleges. Compensation for these graduates can be on par with corporate engagements.
While management consultants do help MPs and MLAs with social media and branding, it is important for political candidates to present their originality of vision to voters. There are calls to take the process to the next level, similar to what happens in the West, by having public debates where candidates share their vision with the people.
The larger consulting firms tend to recruit from top colleges like the IIMs and IITs, but I-PAC also hires graduates from other reputable institutes such as NLU, TISS, Delhi University, and Jadavpur University. They also bring in experienced corporate professionals through lateral hiring.
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Source: Livemint
Definition of FOMO: Fear of missing out effect where people have anxieties that others might be having rewarding experiences from which one is absent,
Definition of Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India,
Definition of MLAs: Members of the Legislative Assembly in India,
Definition of IITs: Indian Institutes of Technology,
Definition of IIMs: Indian Institutes of Management,
Definition of MPs: Members of Parliament in India,
Definition of NLU: National Law University,
Definition of TISS: Tata Institute of Social Sciences.