Archive · 31 Aug 2026
BharatPing Launches Paid Messaging for Professional Networking in India
BharatPing is a new website for professional networking in India.
It wants to make people more likely to answer messages.
To contact someone, a user pays a small fee starting at ₹25.
If the person replies, they receive part of that money.
After replying, both people can chat freely for three days.
The platform says this may discourage spam messages.
It also plans to verify users’ identities using Aadhaar through DigiLocker.
BharatPing is initially focusing on alumni of institutions such as the IITs, IIMs and NITs.
BharatPing is an India-focused professional networking platform founded by Ranjith Parasuraman.
Users can pay as little as ₹25 to initiate contact with another professional.
Recipients receive part of the messaging fee when they reply.
After a reply, both users can converse for three days without additional messaging fees.
The platform plans to use Aadhaar and DigiLocker-based verification and initially target IIT, IIM and NIT alumni.
- Who
- BharatPing, founded by Ranjith Parasuraman, is developing the platform for professionals, initially including IIT, IIM and NIT alumni.
- What
- A professional networking platform that charges senders to initiate messages and rewards recipients who reply.
- When
- The announcement was dated August 31; the article does not specify a year.
- Where
- New Delhi, India; the platform is being developed for the Indian professional network.
- Why
- To discourage spam, encourage meaningful outreach, improve response rates and place value on recipients’ time and attention.
- Platform
- BharatPing
- Founder
- Ranjith Parasuraman, an IIT Madras and IIM Ahmedabad alumnus and YouTuber
- Starting message fee
- ₹25
- Reply incentive
- Recipients receive a portion of the messaging fee when they reply.
- Conversation period
- Three days of additional conversation without messaging fees after a reply
- Identity verification
- Planned Aadhaar verification through DigiLocker-based verification
- Initial audience
- Alumni of the IITs, IIMs and NITs