By Staff Reporter
The National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP) was published in 2012. The National Policy has helped foster accessibility and easier sharing of non-personal data for scientific, economic and social developmental purposes. Introduction of the Data Smart Cities strategy in 2019 by the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) was a key milestone in the journey towards data-driven governance in India’s cities. The strategy has helped catalyze extensive work on data-driven policies and implementation across the 100 smart cities. Launch of the Urban Outcomes Framework in 2022 enabled the sharing of data across 14 sectors, on 400+ parameters for 200+ cities on a portal called AMPLIFI- an acronym for Assessment and Monitoring Platform for Liveable, Inclusive, and Future-ready Urban India. Due to the amount and diversity of data available on it, AMPLIFI has become an important destination for urban data needs.
Besides AMPLIFI, the Mission has created the India Urban Data Exchange (IUDX) as an access controlled, safe mechanism for sharing of sensitive data amongst specific entities. This has helped create innovative solutions in areas of mobility, health etc. in many Smart Cities of the country. All Mission Cities actively share non-personal data on the Government of India’s open data portal. Many Smart Cities have formulated City Data Polices to lay down the principles on how data should be managed and shared in Cities and to define mechanisms around data governance, protection, collaboration and innovation. Cities are able to navigate the contours of data sharing, standardization, privacy, security and ownership using their City Data Policies.
The Mission has created a cyber security framework which guides cities on cyber-security related issues. Besides, cities are expected to adhere to data privacy and safety protocols as laid down from time to time by the Government. Multiple rounds of training has been carried out for this purpose. Large volumes and different types of data are generated and compiled by the Government for meeting specific requirements. Access to data leads to break-throughs 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 is important to make available non-sensitive data for legitimate use.
Broader access and sharing of data supports the Government’s emphasis on engaging citizens in Governance and empowering them with information. It enables collaboration and co-creation amongst innovators, research and development in academia and the industry. It helps provide valuable insights into the functioning and development of cities to Governments, urban planners, policy makers and other stakeholders.
This information was given by the THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE, in a written reply in Lok Sabha
