Centre for Internet and Society

The Centre for Internet and Society logo

The Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) is an Indian non-profit, multidisciplinary research organisation based in Bengaluru. Founded in 2008, CIS works at the intersection of technology, law, and public policy, conducting research and contributing to national and global conversations on internet governance, digital rights, and the social dimensions of technology.

Its areas of focus include digital accessibility for persons with disabilities, access to knowledge, intellectual property rights, internet governance, telecommunication reform, digital privacy, and cyber-security. CIS has engaged with civil society, academic institutions, and policymakers to advance an open, rights-respecting internet in India and beyond.

Sunil Abraham co-founded CIS and served as its Executive Director from 2008 to mid-2019. On The Sunil Abraham Project (TSAP), we specially cover the history and work of CIS between 2008 and mid-2019, before Sunil stepped down as Executive Director.

According to a notice displayed as a banner on its official website, CIS stopped all its programmatic activities as of 1 May 2025, citing regulatory changes.

Contents

  1. Founding and Registration
  2. Objectives
  3. Concept Note
  4. Memorandum of Association
  5. Legal and Regulatory Registrations
  6. Organisational Policies
  7. Annual Reports
  8. Events
  9. External Links

Founding and Registration

CIS was registered as a Society under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960 (K.S.R. Act 17 of 1960) on 4 July 2008, with Society Registration Number SOR/BLU/DR/57/2008-09, by the Office of the Registrar of Societies, Bangalore Urban District. The registration fee paid at the time was ₹1,000. The registered office at founding was No. 106, Vineyard Jasmine Apartments, Bank Avenue, 1st Main Road, Babusapalya, Banaswadi, Bangalore 560043, Karnataka.

The Memorandum of Association was signed by seven founding members—

  1. Sunil Abraham (then aged 35, engineer) signed as President;
  2. Achal Prabhala (35, researcher) as Vice-President;
  3. Lawrence Liang (34, lawyer) as Secretary;
  4. Nishant Shah (27, researcher) as Treasurer;
  5. Atul Ramchandra (social worker, Bengaluru),
  6. Subbiah Arunachalam (retired scientist, Chennai),
  7. Vibodh Parthasarathi (New Delhi).

The MOA was amended at a Special General Body Meeting held on 30 June 2009 and approved by the Registrar of Societies under Ref. No. 109/2009-10 on 5 February 2010.

Objectives

The aims and objectives of CIS, as laid out in the Memorandum of Association, are:

  1. To educate the general Indian public on developments in the field of internet and society, from a citizen and consumer perspective.
  2. To raise awareness and build capacities of policymakers in the public, private, and voluntary sectors on policies and practices impacting public accountability.
  3. To disseminate knowledge on internet and society by organising meetings, seminars, conferences, training programmes, and courses, in cooperation with schools, colleges, universities, and research organisations.
  4. To conduct and commission high-quality research in areas including censorship, surveillance, free and open source software, open standards, open access, intellectual property rights, ICT for development, access and participation, multilingual content and software, and digital communities and movements.
  5. To promote the advancement and usage of the internet among the general public, professionals, and society at large.
  6. To do all other acts or things incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects.
  7. To ensure that all objects remain consistent with the provisions applicable to public charitable institutions under the Income Tax Act, 1961, and that the society retains its character as a public charitable institution without profit motive.

Concept Note

→ Main article: Concept Note for the Centre for Internet and Society

In July 2008, CIS prepared a concept note setting out the rationale, mission, research agenda, and thematic priorities for the organisation. The document critiques the US- and Eurocentric character of existing Internet policy organisations such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Berkman Centre, and makes the case for an independent, citizen-centred research institution rooted in the conditions of the developing world. It identifies six structural challenges facing Internet policy in India, proposes a research agenda grounded in Asian socio-political contexts, and outlines planned activities including scholarships, fellowships, publications, and policy advocacy.

Memorandum of Association

→ Main article: Memorandum of Association and Rules and Regulations of the Centre for Internet and Society

The Memorandum of Association (MoA) is the founding legal document of CIS, executed on 4 July 2008 and amended in February 2010. It sets out the society’s name, registered address, aims and objects, membership structure, governance arrangements, financial rules, and provisions for dissolution. A supplementary plain-language explainer of the MoA, prepared by TSAP in question-and-answer format, is also available.

During Sunil Abraham’s tenure as Executive Director, CIS obtained registrations connected with its charitable status and its ability to receive foreign contributions. These records document important stages in the organisation’s regulatory history, beginning with its registration under the Income Tax Act and followed by its registration and subsequent renewal under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.

→ Main article: Section 12A Registration (2010)

CIS applied for registration under Section 12A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, on 27 August 2009. The Office of the Director of Income Tax (Exemptions), Bangalore, granted the registration with effect from 5 February 2010, and issued the certificate on 25 February 2010. The certificate recorded the organisation in the status of a “Charitable Trust” and entered its name in the Register of Trusts and Institutions maintained by the Income Tax Department.

The registration did not by itself confer exemption from income tax. Any exemption remained subject to the applicable provisions of the Income Tax Act and assessment by the relevant authority. The certificate also required CIS to file annual income-tax returns, display its full name at premises managed by it, obtain prior approval for changes to its governing documents, and continue carrying out genuine activities in accordance with its stated objects.

→ Main article: FCRA Registration (2012)

CIS applied for registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010, on 1 August 2011. The Ministry of Home Affairs subsequently registered the organisation under Section 11(1) with registration number 094421473, covering activities classified as cultural, educational, and social. The registration was communicated to CIS in a letter dated 12 January 2012 and was valid for five years.

The registration carried conditions governing the receipt, use, reporting, and transfer of foreign contributions. CIS was required to use a designated bank account for foreign contributions, submit the prescribed returns, and comply with restrictions imposed by the Act and Rules. The Ministry also specifically required prior permission before CIS could receive remittances from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) or HIVOS.

→ Main article: FCRA Registration Renewal (2016)

CIS applied for renewal of its FCRA registration on 31 August 2016, and the Ministry of Home Affairs approved the application on 25 October 2016. The organisation retained registration number 094421473 and its classification for cultural, educational, and social activities. The renewed certificate took effect from 12 January 2017 and was valid for a further five years.

The renewal continued requirements concerning the designated bank account, reporting of foreign contributions, transfers of funds, and compliance with the FCRA and its Rules. It also required CIS to report specified organisational changes within 15 days and stated that the Ministry could physically inspect the organisation’s activities.

Organisational Policies

→ Main article: Organisational Policies of the Centre for Internet and Society (2019)

CIS maintained organisational policies and guidelines covering research ethics, prevention of sexual harassment, non-discrimination and equal opportunities, privacy, travel insurance, and use of its website. TSAP documents versions of these policies that were available in 2019, during Sunil Abraham’s tenure as Executive Director.

The policies set out CIS’s procedures and positions on matters including research involving participants, workplace complaints and discrimination, the handling of personal data, overseas travel insurance, and the terms governing use of the CIS website. The TSAP overview is based on archived copies from March and July 2019 and does not attempt to document subsequent revisions, replacements, or other changes.

Annual Reports

CIS published annual reports documenting its research, advocacy, events, publications, and organisational development. The reports available on TSAP currently cover the organisation’s early years from its founding phase through its expansion into a major policy research institution.

  1. Annual Report 2008–09
  2. Annual Report 2009–10
  3. Annual Report 2010–11
  4. Annual Report 2011–12
  5. Annual Report 2012–13
  6. Annual Report 2013–14
  7. Annual Report 2014–15

Events

  1. Fifth Anniversary of the Centre for Internet and Society, a four-day public anniversary celebration held in Bangalore and Delhi in May 2013 featuring exhibitions, talks, screenings, performances, and public engagement around internet policy, culture, and technology

📄 This page was created on 4 April 2026. You can view its history on GitHub, preview the fileTip: Press Alt+Shift+G, or inspect the . Last updated on 18 July 2026.