Public policy · Government relations · Regulatory strategy
I work where new industries meet Indian regulation, helping companies and programmes engage central ministries and state governments with a clear case and a workable ask.
About
I have built government relations functions from scratch, negotiated with state transport authorities, advised the Office of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and led government partnerships with state departments across six states.
My work sits in sectors where the rules are still being written: real-money and online gaming, electric mobility, fintech and digital platforms. I trained as a lawyer, so I read the statute before I draft the ask.
Alongside this I comment publicly on Indian policy, gaming regulation and Tamil Nadu politics, in print, on panels and on video.
Sectors
Online gaming
Built the South India corporate affairs function for a ₹1,800 crore gaming platform across six states and union territories. Drafted state-level gaming regulations and ran stakeholder consultations on them.
Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 · MeitY · State gaming authorities
EV mobility
Used RTI-based regulatory mapping to take a mobility startup into five new states, and secured EV rental licences. Contributed to battery-swapping policy inputs.
Rent-a-Motorcycle Scheme, 1997 · MoRTH · Ministry of Heavy Industries · State Transport Departments · NITI Aayog
Fintech & digital platforms
Advised on India's virtual digital asset framework and led buy-side M&A work, from due diligence and structuring to share purchase.
PMLA, 2002 (VDA providers) · RBI · Companies Act, 2013
Record
Rocket Learning
State government partnerships and expansion across six states.
Corporate transactions
Led a buy-side acquisition of a healthcare company, covering due diligence, valuation, negotiation and share purchase.
Head Digital Works (A23)
Built the South India corporate affairs function and served as primary liaison with MeitY, MoHA, MIB and state gaming authorities.
Ma Foi Strategic Consultants
Owned the P&L for a portfolio of 10 growth and transformation mandates across FMCG, industrial equipment, diagnostics, biofuels and D2C, from go-to-market design to investment memoranda.
Office of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
Policy work including COVID-19 response measures, alongside district-level political research across 38 districts.
Bounce (Wicked Ride)
State entry strategy and licensing for shared electric two-wheelers.
Chambers of Devadatt Kamat, Supreme Court of India
Commentary & media
Led the technical session at CID headquarters for about 50 officers, from inspectors to superintendents of police, on the legal framework for online gaming and betting, IT Act provisions, crypto-betting transaction trails and enforcement. Received a Certificate of Appreciation from the department.
Read the coverage
Moderated a conversation on women's legislative leadership with elected women representatives and aspiring leaders from across Tamil Nadu.
Conceived and ran an SDG summit that brought together 600 delegates from 120 countries, curated ten SDG-themed panels, and moderated the sessions on SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Also designed the accompanying India Youth Fellowship, hosted at ISB.
Who will be your next CM? The bet is on
On offshore crypto-trading platforms taking bets on the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election:
“Purchasing cryptocurrency through regulated exchanges is legal, but using it for betting is illegal.”
Quoted as public policy expert S Rajaram, on why online betting is barred in India whether the platform is domestic or offshore.
For event organisers
Rajaram Surianarayanan is a public policy and government relations professional based in Chennai. Over twelve years, he has worked across online gaming, electric mobility, fintech and digital platforms, and served as a policy consultant in the Office of the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. A lawyer by training from the University of Delhi, he comments regularly on gaming regulation and Tamil Nadu politics. A former emcee of over 120 events, he presents in Tamil, English and Hindi. He is passionate about digital safety for children and increasing green cover.
Rajaram Surianarayanan works where new industries meet Indian regulation. Based in Chennai, he advises companies and organisations on public policy, government relations and regulatory strategy.
He built the South India corporate affairs function at Head Digital Works, the company behind an online skill gaming platform, working with MeitY, the Ministry of Home Affairs and state gaming authorities. Earlier, he led state entry and licensing for the electric mobility company Bounce, and served as a policy and political consultant in the Office of the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
He holds a law degree from the University of Delhi and a graduate certificate in technology and policy from the Takshashila Institution. He has led sessions for the Andhra Pradesh CB-CID, educational institutions and corporates, and is a regular commentator on gaming regulation and Tamil Nadu politics. A former emcee of over 120 events, he presents with ease in Tamil, English and Hindi.
He is passionate about digital safety for children and increasing green cover.
Work with me
A Policy Clarity Call starts at ₹7,500. A Regulatory Snapshot on one issue starts at ₹30,000.
Every engagement has a written scope, timeline and fee agreed before work begins.