Report on Open Government Data in India

Report on Open Government Data in India is a major policy study co-authored by Sunil Abraham, Glover Wright, Pranesh Prakash, and Nishant Shah, and published by the Centre for Internet and Society (CIS). The report provides an in-depth assessment of India’s open data ecosystem, analysing government initiatives, institutional practices, and the legal and policy frameworks that shape access to public data.

Contents

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

Publication Details

👤 Authors:

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

🏛️ Published by:

Centre for Internet and Society (CIS)

📅 Date:

March 2012

📘 Type:

Research Report

📄 Access:

Download PDF

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.

Back to Top ⇧

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.

Back to Top ⇧

Full Text

Back to Top ⇧

Citation

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

APA style:

Abraham, S., Wright, G., Prakash, P., & Shah, N. (2012).
Report on Open Government Data in India.
Centre for Internet and Society (CIS).
https://sunilabraham.in/publications/open-government-data-study-india/

BibTeX style

@report{abraham2012ogd,
  author = {Abraham, Sunil and Wright, Glover and Prakash, Pranesh and Shah, Nishant},
  title = {Report on Open Government Data in India},
  institution = {Centre for Internet and Society (CIS)},
  year = {2012},
  url = {https://sunilabraham.in/publications/open-government-data-study-india/}
}

MLA style

Abraham, Sunil, Glover Wright, Pranesh Prakash, and Nishant Shah.
"Report on Open Government Data in India."
Centre for Internet and Society (CIS), 2012.
https://sunilabraham.in/publications/open-government-data-study-india/

Back to Top ⇧

📄 This page was created on 4 November 2025. On GitHub, you may preview this page Tip: Press Alt+Shift+G or see its raw source.