Mumbai/Delhi, 06th November, 2025: The Indian Influencer Governing Council (IIGC) has launched IIGC Talks, a new conversation-led platform that unites influential voices together to discuss the evolving landscape of India’s creator economy.
The first episode brings on board, Indian Gadget Guru, Rajiv Makhni, in a no-filter conversation on what it takes to be authentic, credible, and what the creators, brands and audiences expect to see in each other in terms of expectations.
Created as a space to drive the real conversation, IIGC Talks aims to shed light on the influencer marketing landscape, the responsibilities that accompany, and the challenges that creators experience today. In the first episode, Makhni reflects on his journey from television journalism to digital content, opening up about what it means to stay trusted in a world where partnerships drive revenue.
In less than a day, the episode has garnered over 1.5L views on YouTube.
The episode:
“In a time when everyone has a voice, the real challenge is knowing which ones to trust,” said Rajiv Makhni. “If a collaboration forces you to compromise your honesty, then the collaboration has already failed. Audiences are sharper than we think, and authenticity travels further than any campaign spend.”
The episode also dives into widely debated questions. “From why do brand partnerships still allow space for unbiased reviews?” to “Is the rise of defluence signaling a new wave of selective influence?”
Speaking about the launch, Sahil Chopra, Chairman of the Indian Influencer Governing Council, said, “IIGC Talks has been designed to concentrate not on promotion or praise but clarity. The creator ecosystem is in the process of maturing, and it should be able to give rise to dialogues that address its complexity. Rajiv has set the perfect tone, sharp, honest, and deeply rooted in experience.”
The conversation points to a significant shift in India’s digital landscape, where the number of followers is replaced by the level of impact a post has, a single-off deal is substituted with dedicated, more purpose-drive partnerships with creators, and clickbait content to is replaced by content that is authentic.
IIGC has in the recent past launched IIGC PROTECT for Creators, The Code of Standards for Brands and IIGC Taskforce, to strengthen industry governance. It has also launched IIGC Protect, an initiative designed to support influencers by adding value through legal education and mental well-being.
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