Asymmetric Open Government Data (OGD) framework in India
| Published date | 13 August 2018 |
| Date | 13 August 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/DPRG-11-2017-0059 |
| Pages | 434-448 |
| Author | Stuti Saxena |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information management & governance,Information policy |
Asymmetric Open Government
Data (OGD) framework in India
Stuti Saxena
Abstract
Purpose –With the ongoing drivestowards Open Government Data (OGD) initiativesacross the globe,
governments havebeen keen on pursuing their OGD policies to ensure transparency,collaboration and
efficiency in administration.As a developing country, India has recently adoptedthe OGD policy (www.
data.gov.in); however,the percolation of this policy in the States has remainedslow. This paper aims to
underpin the ‘‘asymmetry’’ in OGD framework as far as the Indian States are concerned. Besides, the
study alsoassesses the contribution of ‘‘OpenCitizens’’ in furthering the OGD initiativesof the country.
Design/methodology/approach –An exploratory qualitative following a case studyapproach informs
the present study using documentary analysis where evidentiary support from five Indian States (Uttar
Pradesh, Telangana,West Bengal, Sikkim and Gujarat) is being drawn to assessthe nature and scope of
the OGD framework. Further,conceptualization for ‘‘Open Citizen’’ framework is providedto emphasize
upon the need to have aware, informed and pro-active citizensto spearhead the OGD initiatives in the
country.
Findings –While the NationalOGD portal has a substantial numberof data sets across different sectors,
the States are laggingbehind in the adoption and implementationof OGD policies, and while Telangana
and Sikkim have been the frontrunners in adoption of OGD policies in a rudimentarymanner, others are
yet to catch up with them. Further, there is ‘‘asymmetry’’ in terms of the individual contribution of the
government bodies to the open data sets where some government bodies are more reluctant to share
their datasetsthan the others.
Practical implications –It is the conclusion of the study that governments need to institutionalize the
OGD frameworkin the country, and all the States should appreciatethe requirement of adopting a robust
OGD policyfor furthering transparency, collaborationand efficiency in administration.
Social implications –As an ‘‘Open Citizen’’, it behooves upon the citizens to be pro-active and
contribute towardsthe open data sets which would go a long way in derivingsocial and economic value
out of thesedata sets.
Originality/value –While there are many studies on OGD in the West, studies focused upon the
developing countriesare starkly lacking. This study plugsthis gap by attempting a comparative analysis
of the OGD frameworks across Indian States. Besides, the study has provided a conceptualization of
‘‘Open Citizen’’(OGD) which may be tapped for further research in developingand developed countries
to ascertainthe linkage between OGD and OC.
Keywords India, Asymmetry, Open data, Open Government Data, Open citizen, States
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Government has most of the information related to various administrative dimensions
(Aichholzer and Burkert, 2004). Of late, there is an increasing impetus to “open” the
government data which was hitherto reserved in silos. Such data may relate to sectors
like transport, communication, education, health, industry and the like. Three main
objectives of governments to open their data are linked with “(increasing) democratic
control and political participation”, “(fostering) service and product innovation” and
“(strengthening) law enforcement” (Huijboom and Van den Broek, 2011,p.1).
Governments are opening their data for free use, and their data are available and
Stuti Saxena is a
Researcher at the
Department of Political
Science, Central University
of Haryana, Mahendragarh,
India.
Received 17 November 2017
Revised 6 May 2018
Accepted 10 May 2018
PAGE 434 jDIGITAL POLICY, REGULATION AND GOVERNANCE jVOL. 20 NO. 5 2018, pp. 434-448, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2398-5038 DOI 10.1108/DPRG-11-2017-0059
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