India’s National Data Governance Framework Policy (DRAFT)

The National Data Governance Framework Policy (NDGFP) aims to transform the way government data is managed in India. With the rapid digitization of government, governance, and economy, there is a growing need for a comprehensive policy to harness the power of data for effective governance, public good, and innovation. The NDGFP is designed to address the challenges of inconsistent data management across various government entities and to maximize data-driven governance. The NDGFP is a foundational step towards building a robust Digital Government Architecture in India. It aims to maximize data-driven governance, enhance decision-making, improve service delivery, and foster a vibrant data and AI innovation ecosystem. By providing access to anonymized and non-personal datasets, the policy seeks to spur research, innovation, and growth in the Indian data and AI sectors.

Objectives and purpose

The primary objectives of the NDGFP include:

1. Transforming government data management: Establishing standardized guidelines, rules, and standards for data collection, processing, storage, access, and use to improve governance through a whole-of-government approach.
2. Catalysing AI and data-led innovation: Creating a large repository of India datasets to support AI and analytics ecosystems, fostering research, and promoting a startup culture.
3. Accelerating digital governance: Standardizing data management and security across government entities to enhance transparency, accountability, and trust.
4. Building a data ecosystem: Promoting the India Datasets program, which includes non-personal and anonymized datasets accessible by researchers and startups, thereby encouraging innovation.

Applicability

The NDGFP applies to all government departments and entities, covering all data collected and managed by them. It also extends to non-personal datasets and the platforms that manage their access and use. State governments are encouraged to adopt the provisions of the policy.

Data privacy and security

The policy emphasizes the importance of data security and informational privacy. The India Data Management Office (IDMO) will be responsible for developing and enforcing standards and rules to ensure the secure handling of data.

Institutional framework

The IDMO, under the Digital India Corporation, will oversee the implementation of the NDGFP. It will develop rules, standards, and guidelines in consultation with various stakeholders, including ministries, state governments, and the industry. The IDMO will also manage the India Datasets platform and coordinate with line ministries to standardize data management practices.

Role of the IDMO

The IDMO will have several key responsibilities:

1. Data storage and retention: Developing standards and rules for data storage and retention, including cloud storage.
2. Government-to-government data access: Creating mechanisms for inter-government data access with detailed metadata and data dictionaries.
3. India datasets program: Building and managing a program for non-personal and anonymized datasets from government and private entities.
4. Data anonymization: Setting standards and rules for data anonymization to ensure privacy.
5. Data quality and metadata standards: Finalizing and overseeing compliance with metadata and data quality standards.
6. Datasets access platforms: Designing and managing platforms for accessing datasets within the India Datasets program.
7. Datasets access and availability: Establishing protocols for sharing non-personal datasets, prioritizing Indian entities, and judging the validity of data usage requests.
8. Usage rights and disclosure norms: Ensuring data usage rights and formulating disclosure norms for data management.

Capacity development and ethical use

The IDMO will support capacity-building initiatives to enhance digital literacy and skills among government officials. It will also define principles for the ethical and fair use of data beyond the government ecosystem.