Purpose
At The Policy Edge, we see advertising not as a distraction but as a form of partnership -- one that can help advance ideas, innovation, and impact. Every ad we carry should contribute, in its own way, to the goals of sustainable, inclusive, and evidence-based development.
Principles
Advertising on The Policy Edge is guided by three principles:
Alignment with Development Goals: Advertisements should directly relate to at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or demonstrate a clear contribution to inclusive economic, social, or environmental progress.
Integrity and Transparency: All advertisements are reviewed manually for accuracy, ethics, and relevance. Sponsored material is clearly labelled. Advertising does not influence editorial content, coverage, or analysis.
User Experience: Advertisements must enhance, not interrupt, the reader’s experience. We prohibit intrusive formats, misleading claims, or content that could erode trust in our platform.
Acceptable Advertising Categories
We welcome advertisements from organisations, institutions, and enterprises that advance or support:
Sustainable and inclusive economic development
Health systems, innovation in care, and access to medicines
Climate action, green infrastructure, and resilient cities
Digital transformation, data governance, and innovation
Research, think tanks, foundations, policy schools, and social enterprises
These may include private firms, public institutions, NGOs, academic bodies, and multilateral agencies that engage with development, governance, or policy outcomes.
Prohibited Categories
The Policy Edge does not accept advertisements for:
Gambling, betting, or lotteries
Adult or sexually explicit content
Alcohol, tobacco, or vaping products
Arms, weapons, or surveillance tools
Fossil-fuel or extractive industries without credible transition or sustainability commitments
Financial scams or speculative investment schemes
Misleading, false, or unverifiable impact claims
Content violating human rights, privacy, or data-protection norms
Ad Formats
We accept the following formats:
Display banners: Homepage, article placements, footer, sidebar
Sponsored content or “Partner Insights” (clearly labelled)
Event sponsorships or co-branded webinars
Native in-article placements (with full disclosure)
We do not use programmatic advertising or third-party ad networks. All placements are individually reviewed and approved.
Review and Approval Process
All advertisers and creatives undergo manual pre-approval by The Policy Edge team. The review assesses:
Thematic alignment with SDGs or public-policy objectives
Accuracy and ethical presentation of content
Relevance and value for our readership
Quality of landing-page experience (no misleading redirects or hidden content)
We reserve the right to reject, remove, or request revision of any advertisement that fails to meet our standards -- without obligation to provide detailed justification.
Editorial Independence
Advertising on The Policy Edge will never influence our editorial agenda, selection of contributors, or tone of coverage.
All sponsored or paid placements are distinctly labelled as such. Our editorial content remains fully independent, evidence-based, and non-partisan.
Ethical and Legal Compliance
Advertisers must comply with:
Applicable consumer-protection, privacy, and data-protection laws (including India’s DPDPA)
International standards on responsible and ethical marketing
We expect complete transparency in data collection, cookies, and tracking associated with any ad or landing page.
User Trust and Experience
We monitor all advertisements for performance and user feedback.
Ads found to be misleading, offensive, or inconsistent with our mission will be withdrawn.
Readers may report any concern about an advertisement by writing to editor@policyedge.in
Policy Review
This policy is reviewed periodically to ensure continued alignment with The Policy Edge’s mission and evolving development priorities.