Research Uncovers 2,500 Global Organisations Linked to the RSS

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a prominent Indian organisation celebrating its centenary in October 2025, has long been scrutinised for its ideological stances and political affiliations. However, a new research initiative titled “Seeing the Sangh” has shifted focus to the internal workings of the RSS, revealing the existence of over 2,500 organisations linked to it around the globe.

Led by Dr. Felix Pal, a lecturer at the University of Western Australia, the six-year project mapped the RSS’s extensive network across forty countries. Researchers used publicly available documents to verify connections among these organisations. The findings were subsequently vetted and published by The Caravan magazine as an interactive map, shedding light on the RSS’s complex organisational structure.

While the RSS publicly acknowledges ties to a select few organisations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the research indicates that it operates a vast and interconnected network that extends well beyond its stated affiliations. The map illustrates not just ideological connections but also tangible links, including shared leadership, addresses, events, and funding streams, some of which come from international sources.

The findings challenge the prevailing narrative that the RSS is merely a loose collection of like-minded groups. Instead, it suggests a strategic design behind the RSS’s apparent decentralisation. This calculated opacity allows the organisation to maintain plausible deniability while expanding its influence into various sectors, including culture, education, health, and charity.

Mapping the Network of Influences

According to the “Seeing the Sangh” project, of the more than 2,500 organisations identified, 2,240 are based in India. These include various institutions such as schools, hostels, unions, and advocacy groups. The largest concentration of related organisations outside India is in the United States, with approximately 107 entities, followed by Australia with 34 and the UK with 26.

Within India, Uttar Pradesh hosts the highest number of these organisations, approximately 280, followed closely by Maharashtra with 259, and Kerala at 212. Many of these groups focus on critical areas such as education, community outreach, and labour rights. For instance, Karnataka alone has at least 28 institutions dedicated to educational and community outreach efforts, many of which serve tribal communities.

The research also uncovered a significant presence of labour unions linked to the RSS, with 22 active in Kerala alone, advocating for various worker groups, including estate and plantation labourers. The findings highlight the RSS’s strategic engagement in areas often overlooked in discussions about its influence.

Beyond Ideology: Understanding the RSS’s Structure

The RSS has cultivated a reputation for its charitable and cultural contributions. However, the research indicates that its reach extends into more sensitive domains, including military training and political mobilisation. There are at least 17 organisations related to defence, with the Central Hindu Military Education Society, founded in 1935, overseeing several military schools.

Notably, the study identified over 400 hostels across India, many housing individuals from Adivasi communities. While these institutions may not explicitly promote a Hindutva agenda, they often encourage residents to adopt political and religious beliefs that align with RSS ideologies.

Additionally, the research uncovered numerous groups associated with violence, including the VHP and Bajrang Dal. Smaller organisations, such as the Karni Sena, known for vandalism during the Padmavat protests, further illustrate the spectrum of groups connected to the RSS.

The study’s findings present a paradigm shift in understanding the RSS, suggesting that its influence is not merely ideological but deeply structural. This network operates much like a switchboard, allowing the RSS to engage with diverse communities while maintaining a level of anonymity and strategic distance from controversial actions.

This research highlights the importance of transparency in democratic discourse. The RSS’s greatest strength may not lie in its ideology, but in its intricate organisational framework, which allows it to shape narratives and influence various sectors of society. By making this structure visible, the conversation surrounding the RSS and its role in Indian politics and society may fundamentally change.