India’s economic and social transformation in recent years has been significantly fuelled by data-driven policymaking. By leveraging robust datasets, advanced analytics, and emerging technologies, the country has positioned itself as a leader in Asia’s growth narrative.

At the Global AI Summit 2025 in Paris, India laid high emphasis on data sovereignty  for the Global South and leveraging AI for the same, underlining its leadership role in the domain.

It stemmed from the concept of data-control and how emerging economies can together ensure equitable development of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Evan A. Feigenbaum and Michael R. Nelsonin their book, Data Governance, Asian Alternatives, emphasise how India is one of those Asian democracies that is carving out distinctive paths on data policy, and not just following Western or Chinese models.

In March 2025, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has collaborated with IIM Ahmedabad to strengthen India’s data ecosystem and support evidence-based policymaking, marked by a workshop titled “Emerging Trends in Public Data and Technology for Research and Policy”held at the IIM Ahmedabad. India has increasingly turned to evidence-based policymaking to tackle complex developmental challenges, leveraging data-driven initiatives such as the India Policy Insights Program and Digital India to gather, analyze, and apply vast datasets across sectors.

This approach has revealed key shifts in national trends—for instance, recent data shows that household food expenditure has dropped below 50% of total consumption, indicating both improved living standards and evolving dietary preferences. In healthcare, programs like Ayushman Bharat have significantly reduced household vulnerability to medical shocks, with a remarkabledecrease in the likelihood of falling into lower consumption categories after such events. Additionally, geospatial technologies, including satellite imagery, are being used to monitor infrastructure development and economic activity in underserved regions like the Northeast, fostering more inclusive and targeted growth.

India’s swift embrace of digital technologies has revolutionized key sectors including healthcare, education, agriculture, and urban development. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and cloud computing into governance has empowered the government to harness predictive analytics for anticipating disease outbreaks, optimizing crop yields, and enhancing urban planning. 

Under the Smart Cities Mission, AI-driven systems are improving infrastructure through smarter traffic management and waste disposal solutions. Additionally, the use of AI chatbots and automated workflows is streamlining public service delivery, significantly cutting down on bureaucratic inefficiencies and improving citizen engagement. As Meta is partnering with Indian state governments to transform public service delivery by integrating its Llama AI model and WhatsApp-based chatbots, starting with Andhra Pradesh’s Mana Mitra and expanding to Maharashtra and Odisha.

Data-driven policymaking in India goes beyond improving efficiency—it plays a crucial role in promoting equity. Initiatives like the Electronic National Agriculture Market (E-NAM) are integrating farm markets nationwide, opening up new opportunities for small-scale farmers to access fair prices and broader markets. 

At the local level, tools such as the India Policy Insights dashboard offer granular, village- and district-level data, empowering administrators to design more targeted and effective interventions. Enhanced data collection and analysis have also improved the precision of welfare programs, reducing targeting errors and ensuring that support reaches the most vulnerable populations. No other country in Asia has been so successful in garnering the power of data is driving equitable growth and prosperity for all.

While India has made remarkable progress in harnessing data for development, there are opportunities to strengthen the system further. Enhancing coordination in data collection can help overcome current fragmentation and unlock more cohesive policy insights. Building a robust data governance framework will be key to managing the vast amounts of information generated by the digital economy, ensuring both innovation and privacy are protected.

 Additionally, empowering local governments with greater technical capacity and resources will enable more effective use of complex datasets. By fostering collaboration among industry, academia, and government, and developing unified, forward-looking data policies, India is well-positioned to maximize the full potential of its digital transformation.