The Guide to Indian Data

Find the right data for research on India.

Explore surveys, administrative records, censuses, spatial data, replication packages, and open-source datasets—organized by topic, geography, time, and access conditions.

Browse the catalog →

Click anywhere on the hero to navigate the dataset solar system

168

datasets

20

thematic areas

93

data providers

September 2026

last updated

How it works

From theme suns to full dataset records

  1. 01

    Open the solar map

    Enter through the hero button, a click on the image, or the keyboard. Scroll down to browse the catalog and editorial guide.

  2. 02

    Click a theme sun

    Health, trade, labour… linked datasets light up; multi-theme visitors show as dashed links.

  3. 03

    Open a dataset page

    Access type, guides, variables, limitations, and previous-round background when available.

Start with the evidence

A research catalog, not just a collection of links

Each record adds editorial guidance to the source material: what the data measure, where and when they apply, how access works, what they are best used for, and which limitations matter before analysis begins.

Editor's starting shelf

Widely used Indian data systems

These records illustrate the guide's range across household surveys, administrative reporting, education, industry, and population statistics.

View all datasets

Editorial method

Source facts, normalized with research judgment

The guide does not republish or disguise other people's work. It points to original hosts and adds a consistent research layer so datasets can be compared before a user commits time to access requests, documentation, or cleaning.

Read the methodology
  1. 01SelectPrioritize sources with clear research use, identifiable stewardship, and enough documentation to describe responsibly.
  2. 02NormalizeRecord access, geography, period, formats, variables, use cases, and source type in a comparable structure.
  3. 03QualifyState limitations and access friction plainly, retain source attribution, and direct corrections to the maintainer.