The Government of India has launched its open Data Portal India (data.gov.in), a portal for the public to access and use datasets and applications provided by ministries and departments of the Government of India.

Aim: "To increase transparency in the functioning of Government and also open avenues for many more innovative uses of Government Data to give different perspective." ("About portal," data.gov.in)

Already 4,068 datasets - 51 departments - 7 apps

The portal contains more than 4,000 datasets from 51 different government offices. Until now the biggest contributor by far is the Ministry of Agriculture with 1,745 datasets. The portal also contains 7 apps, including a map service, an app on rural sanitation coverage and one on physical, biological and geological information on oceans and coasts.

Top 3 of most downloaded agricultural datasets

1. Current Daily Price of Various Commodities from Various Markets (Mandis)

Prices of various commodities. It has the wholesale maximum price, minimum price and modal price on daily basis. This dataset is generated through the AGMARKNET Portal, which disseminates daily market information of various commodities.



2. District-wise, season-wise crop production statistics from 1998

The data is being used to study and analyse crop production, production contribution to district/state/country, Agro-climatic zone wise performance, and high yield production order for crops.



3. Variety-wise Daily Market Prices Data for Wheat for 2012

State-wise, variety-wise prices of Wheat for the year 2012. It has the wholesale maximum price, minimum price and modal price on daily basis. This dataset is generated through the AGMARKNET Portal which disseminates daily market information of various commodities.

Forecasting: 10,000 data sets in the next six months

Regarding the next six months Sam Pitrod - The adviser to the Prime Minister of India - stated: "we would like to see that this [i.e. number of datasets] goes up to 10,000 data sets and we would like to challenge developer community to make at least 100 applications in next month to use this data" (Medha Basu, "India's open data portal launched with 3500 datasets," FutureGov Asia Pacific