India: Data governance profile

2. Data Management: 3. Data custodians and 4. Data sharing, accessibility 5. Data sharing, risks &
1. Vision and policy intent
policies, rules & institutions data stewardship and integration mitigation

Digital India is a flagship The National Statistical The Collection of Statistics Act The National Data and Analytics The Digital Personal Data
programme of the Government of Commission was constituted with 2008 is the principal legislation for Platform (NDAP) streamlines data Protection Act, 2023 received
India with a vision to transform effect from 12th July 2006 with a the collection of economic, social, dissemination and provides access presidential assent in August
India into a digitally empowered mandate to evolve policies, demographic, scientific and to standardized published 2023. Once effective, it will be the
society and knowledge economy. priorities and standards in environmental data. government data sets from across governing law on personal data
The National Institution for statistical matters. The Central Statistical Office (CSO) India’s extensive administrative protection in the country.
Transforming India (NITI) Aayog's National Data Sharing and is the statistical arm of Ministry of landscape in a user-centric The Collection of Statistics Act
Strategy for New India includes Accessibility Policy (NDSAP) Statistics and Programme manner. NDAP allows users to 2008 is the principal legislation for
the vision of “data led governance The National Policy is expected to Implementation (MoSPI). Its easily search, merge, visualize, the collection of economic, social,
and policy making” with all policy increase the accessibility and functions include: and download datasets. demographic, scientific and
interventions and decision- easier sharing of non-sensitive • Acting as the nodal agency for To implement the National Data environmental data. Chapter III
making based on evidence and data amongst the registered users planned development of the Sharing and Accessibility Policy (Sections 9 to 14) of the Act deal
real-time data. This requires: and their availability for scientific, statistical system. (NDSAP), an Open Government with disclosure of information:
• Collecting data for new economic and social • Coordinating the statistical Data (OGD) Platform has been “No person shall be permitted to
measurable parameters using developmental purposes. work in respect of the developed by the National see any information or records…
latest technologies; Department of Science & Ministries/Departments of the Informatics Centre, Ministry of who is not engaged in the
• Improving efficiencies in Technology (DST) would be the Government of India and State Electronics & Informational collection of statistics under this
processes related to existing Nodal Department for all matters Statistical Bureaus (SSBs), Technology. The Open Act.”
data collection by government connected with overall co- • Advising the Ministries/ Government Data platform The Act also includes provisions
departments and agencies; ordination, formulation, Departments of the provides open access by proactive for the release of information for
• Expanding warehousing implementation and monitoring Government of India on release of the data available with bona fide research or statistical
facilities for storing and of the policy. statistical methodology and various ministries/ departments/ purposes.
integrating data; on statistical analysis of data. organizations of Government of
The Ministry of Electronics and Draft National Data Governance
• Making data available for • Compiling and releasing India. All datasets/resources
Information Technology, (MEITY) Policy
industry practitioners, official statistics. including metadata published on
is working towards the promotion Under this policy, the India Data
academicians, researchers, • Organizing and conducting the Open Government Data portal
of e-Governance. MEITY has Management Office will set and
etc., wherever feasible; and periodic all-India Economic (data.gov.in) are licensed under
published a draft National Data publish data anonymization
• Integrating data analysis and Censuses and large scale all- the Government Open Data
Governance Policy which standards and rules to ensure
interactive data visualization India sample surveys. License - India which can be
proposes the establishment of an information privacy.
into all policy formulation. • Evaluation of sampling design accessed here.
“India Data Management Office”
in respect of surveys
Aspirational Districts and Blocks responsible for developing rules,
conducted by the National
programme, a flagship initiative of standards, and guidelines for
Sample Survey Organisations
NITI Aayog, relies on real-time non-personal data to catalyse the
and other Central Ministries
data collection for ranking data and AI based innovation
and Departments.
indicators to foster competition, ecosystem under this Policy.
• Liaison with international
accountability and providing statistical organizations.
targeted support.
Disclaimer: This profile was produced by ESCAP to illustrate differing data governance arrangements and practices and reflects the situation from when it was compiled. Refer to the country’s own website for the latest information.