Context

• In the age of information, data is central to governance, policy-making, and developmental progress.
• Yet, India, despite its advancements in digitisation and open-data policies, faces persistent challenges in generating, disseminating, and utilising data effectively.
• Therefore, it is important to analyse the current state of data availability and usability in Indian governance, highlighting systemic issues with data dissemination and use.

Challenges in Government Data Availability and Use

• Inconsistency in Survey Methods
  • A fundamental concern among critics is the significant delay in conducting Census operations and releasing updated datasets to researchers and policymakers.
  • The inconsistency in survey methodologies and frequent changes disrupt the continuity of time-series data, hindering long-term, comparative analysis essential for informed decision-making.
• Usability and Accessibility Challenges
  • While government officials tout the vast data repositories available through ministry portals and the National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP), 2012, the accessibility and usability of such data remain in question.
  • The policy's objective to provide non-sensitive data in open and reusable formats is undermined by technical complexity, lack of standardised formats, and an underdeveloped ecosystem for data visualisation and analytics.
• Disconnect between Data Usage and Data Availability
  • As a result, both citizens and trained researchers often find themselves overwhelmed and unable to translate data into actionable insights.
  • Consequently, governance at various levels continues to rely on bureaucratic experience and ministerial intuition rather than evidence-based policymaking.
  • This disconnect between data availability and actual usage highlights a systemic gap that must be addressed to make governance more transparent, inclusive, and effective.

Data Usage at the Grassroots: The Missing Micro Picture

• At the local level, gram panchayats, blocks, and districts, data is predominantly generated for consumption by higher administrative bodies, leaving grassroots functionaries without meaningful access.
• Most digital platforms are tailored to meet the needs of state and national-level officials rather than those of local governance actors.
• This top-down approach results in a mega picture of development while neglecting the micro picture that captures local realities.
• If household-linked data at the gram panchayat level were presented in accessible formats, it could empower residents and elected representatives alike to demand better services and accountability.

Initiatives to Address These Systematic Challenges

• The Panchayat Advancement Index: A Transformative Innovation
  • Amid these systemic challenges, the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) emerges as a potential gamechanger.
  • Released officially in April 2025 by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the PAI Baseline Report 2022–23 represents a major effort to link data with developmental outcomes.
  • It draws upon 435 local indicators (331 mandatory and 104 optional) and 566 unique data points across nine themes aligned with the Localisation of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs) and the National Indicator Framework.
  • What sets PAI apart is its focus on local usability: data are validated, analysed, and presented in formats understandable even to sarpanches and ward members—with minimal support.
  • This approach addresses the long-standing issue of accessibility and empowers local stakeholders to identify gaps, set priorities, and take action.
  • However, PAI’s success is not uniform. While most states submitted comprehensive data, Uttar Pradesh's submission covered only 40% of its gram panchayats, raising concerns about uneven participation and accountability.
• Linking Data to Outcomes: A Paradigm Shift
  • By linking data directly to outcomes, such as the health status of a panchayat, PAI facilitates focused interventions.
  • Poor-performing indicators highlight gaps, suggest responsible stakeholders, and guide the deployment of resources.
  • This promotes multi-stakeholder coordination among community members, local representatives, frontline workers, and civil society organisations.
  • PAI also opens new pathways for targeted funding from various schemes such as MPLADS, MLALADS, CSR funds, and the Prime Minister’s Mineral Area Fund, all of which can be channelled toward SDG achievement.
  • In doing so, it shifts the narrative from mere fund allocation to strategic, data-informed development planning.

The Road Ahead: Strengthening Local Data Capacity

• To realise PAI’s full potential, India must invest in trained data analysts at the district and block levels to generate regular report cards and insights for stakeholders.
• While the Union government has enabled the creation of PAI, its real value lies in strengthening local governance structures through regular monitoring and support.
• Moreover, the model could be replicated in urban settings by developing a similar Achievement Index for urban local bodies.
• The baseline report should be followed by periodic publications to sustain momentum and track progress over time.
• Importantly, PAI is not just a ranking mechanism, it is a call to action. Poorly performing panchayats need tailored support, not reprimand.
• Equipping all stakeholders with understandable, actionable data through advanced visualisation tools will make development more participatory and inclusive.

Conclusion

• While systemic issues in data availability, accessibility, and usability persist, innovations like the Panchayat Advancement Index illuminate the path forward.
• By democratising data and linking it to outcomes, PAI offers a blueprint for bottom-up development planning, community empowerment, and accountable governance.
• For this transformation to succeed, however, consistent participation, local capacity building, and sustained political will are indispensable.
• Only then can data truly become a tool for inclusive growth and sustainable development.