National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP)

Large volumes and different types of data, including some of scientific and technical relevance are generated and compiled by various arms of the Government of India and various State Governments for meeting their specific requirements.   Scientific organizations generate data and develop scientific data bases deploying huge public funds.   Since such data are not generated under any standardized format, inter-operability of both scientific and technical data poses a serious challenge.   Global experience has demonstrated convincingly that access to data leads to breakthroughs in scientific understanding as well as to economic and public good, in addition to several benefits to civil society.   Given the deployment of substantial level of investment of public funds in collection of data and the untapped potentials of benefits to society, it has become important to make available non-sensitive data for legitimate and registered use.

            Keeping in view the emphasis of the Government on engaging citizens in Governance Reforms, placing of non-strategic data in public domain and the provisions of RTI Act 2005 for empowering the citizens to secure access to information under the control of public authority leading to the transparency and accountability in the working of every public authority, the National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP) has been published in March 2012.   The National Policy is expected toincrease the accessibility and easier sharing of non-sensitive data amongst the registered users and their availability for scientific, economic and social developmental purposes.     Over the years, various data holding organizations of Central and State Governments have published their non-sensitive data, keeping in view, the broad guidelines delineated in the RTI Act 2005.

            Department of Science & Technology (DST) would be the Nodal Department for all matters connected with overall co-ordination, formulation, implementation and monitoring of the policy.   For Geospatial Data, existing National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) mechanism involving both Department of Space and Department of Science & Technology would be used for any conflict resolution.

NSDI Gazatte Notification1.54 MB

NDSAP Gazette Notification1.54 MB