Democratise data to
unlock value for all
Democratise data to
unlock value for all
We enable institutions to harmonise data,
build trust for sharing across silos, optimise their
data workflows with AI-ready tools & playbooks and
make these processes repeatable at scale
We enable institutions to harmonise data,build trust for sharing across silos, optimise their data workflows with AI-ready tools & playbooks andmake these processes repeatable at scale
Our Work
Assessing and Building AI Readiness
AI readiness begins with individual datasets, as organisational readiness is ultimately built dataset by dataset.
Four questions determine whether a dataset is AI-ready:
Our Work
Assessing and Building AI Readiness
AI readiness begins with individual datasets, as organisational readiness is ultimately built dataset by dataset.
Four questions determine whether a dataset is AI-ready:
Can it be found?
Can it be read?
Can it be found?
Can it be read?
Can it interoperate?
Can it be trusted?
Can it interoperate?
Can it be trusted?
Together, these provide a simple framework for assessing whether data is discoverable, machine-readable, connected through common standards, and supported by sufficient metadata and provenance.
Together, these provide a simple framework for assessing whether data is discoverable, machine-readable, connected through common standards, and supported by sufficient metadata and provenance.
DATA DHARA - 7 Stage Data Lifecycle
DATA DHARA - 7 Stage Data Lifecycle
1
Identified
Datasets get identified and listed.
1
Identified
Datasets get identified and listed.
2
Described
Datasets get clear descriptions with metadata.
2
Described
Datasets get clear descriptions with metadata.
3
Interoperable
Different systems recognise the same thing.
3
Interoperable
Different systems recognise the same thing.
4
Catalogued
Data is discoverable and queryable.
4
Catalogued
Data is discoverable and queryable.
5
Governed
Access controlled, consent enforced.
5
Governed
Access controlled, consent enforced.
6
Accessible
AI can pull the exact piece it needs.
6
Accessible
AI can pull the exact piece it needs.
7
AI-ready
Safe for AI application and automation.
7
AI-ready
Safe for AI application and automation.
What this life-cycle is useful for is diagnosis: it tells a team not only how ready a dataset is overall, but exactly where to focus next. We work through three connected efforts.
What this life-cycle is useful for is diagnosis: it tells a team not only how ready a dataset is overall, but exactly where to focus next. We work through three connected efforts.
Systems Thinking
Diagnosing the
Data Journey
We enable you to map where data and data flows are blocked across the Prepare → Action journey. We help you diagnose which stage is holding you back — and what it will take to move forward.
Systems Thinking
Diagnosing the
Data Journey
We enable you to map where data and data flows are blocked across the Prepare → Action journey. We help you diagnose which stage is holding you back — and what it will take to move forward.
Co-ordination & trust
Building Institutional
Readiness
Making data work across institutions is not only a technical problem. We work on the coordination, trust mechanisms, and operating models that make it possible.
Co-ordination & trust
Building Institutional
Readiness
Making data work across institutions is not only a technical problem. We work on the coordination, trust mechanisms, and operating models that make it possible.
Open toolkits
Tools & Playbooks
That Transfer
Efforts 1 and 2 together produce two things: a technical toolkit and a coordination playbook. Both are designed to transfer. The next institution doesn't start from zero. This is how pilots become a pattern.
Open toolkits
Tools & Playbooks
That Transfer
Efforts 1 and 2 together produce two things: a technical toolkit and a coordination playbook. Both are designed to transfer. The next institution doesn't start from zero. This is how pilots become a pattern.
Our Offerings
Four artifacts from the Data DHARA Pathway
Our Offerings
Four artifacts from the Data DHARA Pathway
For Data Custodians
Know Your Data Set (KYDS)
Simple form for data custodian
Profiles and characterises a raw dataset so its trustworthiness is known before anything is built on it.
For Data Custodians
Know Your Data Set (KYDS)
Simple form for data custodian
Profiles and characterises a raw dataset so its trustworthiness is known before anything is built on it.
Convergence
DATA DHARA Toolkit
7-stage DATA DHARA lifecycle
Carries a dataset through a 7-stage lifecycle, ending in a catalogue
Convergence
DATA DHARA Toolkit
7-stage DATA DHARA lifecycle
Carries a dataset through a 7-stage lifecycle, ending in a catalogue
Convergence
DATA DHARA Sandbox
Where the journeys meet
Governed access point where a ready dataset and a scoped request meet and the build starts.
Convergence
DATA DHARA Sandbox
Where the journeys meet
Governed access point where a ready dataset and a scoped request meet and the build starts.
Know Your Use Case
Know Your Use Case (KYUC)
Guided intake for data requests
A self-serve, minutes-long way for a use case idea to become a scoped,
(Work in progress)
Know Your Use Case
Know Your Use Case (KYUC)
Guided intake for data requests
A self-serve, minutes-long way for a use case idea to become a scoped,
(Work in progress)
The Data Bulletin
The Data Bulletin
Perspectives from the EkStep Foundation team and our partners across government and research institutions, on data readiness, institutional capacity, and the work of building public data India can rely on.
Perspectives from the EkStep Foundation team and our partners across government and research institutions, on data readiness, institutional capacity, and the work of building public data India can rely on.
From Silos to Systems
What DHIS2, Digital Earth Africa, and ULIP Reveal About Unlocking Public Value at Scale
Purpose Built: Turning Fragmented Government Data into AI-Ready Infrastructure
A DPI Framework for Governed, AI-Ready Data Access in India
Policy Meets the Proprietor
Amodini A P, AI Research Fellow (May-Dec 2025), People+ai, EkStep Foundation
A Decentralized Agentic Architecture for India's 110 Million MSMEs
The Practical Path to Viksit Bharat
Shri P. R. Meshram, Director General (Data Governance), National Statistics Office of India
How NSO's eSankhyiki MCP Server Is Making Official Statistics Instantly Usable
The GIVE Framework for Public Data
Shalini Kapoor, Chief Strategist (Data & AI), EkStep Foundation
A Blueprint for a Fair and Inclusive Data Economy in the Age of AI, where value must flow both ways
From Silos to Systems
What DHIS2, Digital Earth Africa, and ULIP Reveal About Unlocking Public Value at Scale
Purpose Built: Turning Fragmented Government Data into AI-Ready Infrastructure
A DPI Framework for Governed, AI-Ready Data Access in India
Policy Meets the Proprietor
Amodini A P, AI Research Fellow (May-Dec 2025), People+ai, EkStep Foundation
A Decentralized Agentic Architecture for India's 110 Million MSMEs
The Practical Path to Viksit Bharat
Shri P. R. Meshram, Director General (Data Governance), National Statistics Office of India
How NSO's eSankhyiki MCP Server Is Making Official Statistics Instantly Usable
The GIVE Framework for Public Data
Shalini Kapoor, Chief Strategist (Data & AI), EkStep Foundation
A Blueprint for a Fair and Inclusive Data Economy in the Age of AI, where value must flow both ways
