Revisiting Public Relations Profession in India: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

The public relations (PR) industry in India is a multi-billion industry, and various global and national players are part of it. This article, by analysing the existing literature in this field, aims to understand the current state of the profession in India and identify possible issues and challenges. Based on a systematic literature review, 95 published academic works were identified from academic databases. Of 95, 27 were selected for analysis to answer the research questions and identify research gaps in the field. The study finds that although PR practice had a firm footing in the pre-independence era, progress was seen after 1947, especially with initial support from the government and public sector organisations. The profession is still evolving and has much scope for development. Poor reputation of the profession, scarcity of talent, limited scope for professional education and training, lack of measurement methods to demonstrate its value and competing for public and private sector philosophies pose a serious challenge to its growth. The study offers valuable insights for the practitioners and researchers and suggests future research areas to improve the professional discipline.