Report on Open Government Data in India

Open Government Data Study: India is a policy report co-authored by Glover Wright, Pranesh Prakash, Sunil Abraham, and Nishant Shah, produced by the Centre for Internet and Society (CIS) for the Transparency & Accountability Initiative (TAI), published by the Open Society Foundation in 2010.

Contents

1. Publication Details
2. Abstract
3. Context and Background
4. Key Themes or Findings
5. Full Text
6. Citation

Publication Details

👤 Authors:

Glover Wright, Pranesh Prakash, Sunil Abraham, and Nishant Shah

🏛️ Published by:

Transparency & Accountability Initiative (TAI) / Centre for Internet and Society (CIS)

📅 Date:

2010

📘 Type:

Research Report

📄 Access:

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Abstract

This report provides one of the earliest comprehensive assessments of India’s Open Government Data (OGD) landscape. It reviews institutional mechanisms, technical standards, and legal structures supporting open data, with particular focus on the National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP). Through comparative analysis and field research, it identifies barriers to open access, evaluates the role of civil society and technology communities, and suggests pathways for improving transparency, reuse, and citizen engagement in governance.

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Context and Background

The report was produced at a time when India was formulating its first major open data policy. Drawing from international experiences, the authors explore how open data initiatives can improve governance efficiency, public participation, and innovation. The study situates OGD within India’s broader transparency regime — anchored by the Right to Information Act (RTI) — and examines how data availability can complement legal rights to information.

It maps existing data-sharing practices across ministries and departments, highlighting fragmentation in standards, licensing, and metadata. The report also analyses early prototypes of the data.gov.in platform, identifying gaps in interoperability and accessibility. The authors stress that open data should not merely be a technical exercise but a democratic commitment rooted in accountability and citizen empowerment.

Key Themes or Findings

• Policy and Institutional Frameworks: The report evaluates the design and objectives of the NDSAP, comparing them with global benchmarks such as the UK’s Open Data Charter and the US Data.gov initiative.
• Implementation Gaps: Despite policy ambition, the study finds limited awareness and uneven implementation across ministries. Data quality, formats, and documentation often fall short of open standards.
• Legal and Licensing Issues: It calls for clear open data licences and improved integration with RTI processes to avoid legal ambiguities in data reuse and sharing.
• Capacity and Technology: The research underlines the need for technical infrastructure, trained personnel, and open standards to sustain large-scale OGD projects.
• Citizen Engagement: Open data’s success depends not only on availability but also on meaningful use — by researchers, journalists, and civic technologists — to enhance accountability and evidence-based policymaking.

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Full Text

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Citation

If you wish to reference or cite this publication, you may use one of the following formats.

APA style:

Wright, G., Prakash, P., Abraham, S., & Shah, N. (2010).
Open Government Data Study: India.
Transparency & Accountability Initiative / Centre for Internet and Society (CIS).
https://sunilabraham.in/publications/open-government-data-study-india/

BibTeX style

@techreport{wright2010ogd,
  author      = {Wright, Glover and Prakash, Pranesh and Abraham, Sunil and Shah, Nishant},
  title       = {Open Government Data Study: India},
  institution = {Centre for Internet and Society},
  publisher   = {Transparency \& Accountability Initiative / Open Society Foundation},
  year        = {2010},
  url         = {https://sunilabraham.in/publications/open-government-data-study-india/}
}

MLA style

Wright, Glover, Pranesh Prakash, Sunil Abraham, and Nishant Shah.
"Open Government Data Study: India."
Transparency & Accountability Initiative / Centre for Internet and Society (CIS), 2010.
https://sunilabraham.in/publications/open-government-data-study-india/

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