Administrative data consists of information created and collated when people interact with the government in the course of accessing public services and benefits – and is among the most granular and potentially robust data available to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and schemes.

CLEAR/J-PAL South Asia and the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office, NITI Aayog co-developed two knowledge products to support state governments across India access, analyse, and use administrative data. DMEO, the apex M&E body in India, aims to support Indian states in rigorous and data-driven program management and policymaking. Administrative data, to this end, provides access to comprehensive information over a long period of time, making it a valuable resource in evidence-based policymaking.

The ‘Compendium of Case Studies on Using Administrative Data for Evidence Based Policy Making’ offers an overview of integrating administrative data into government decision-making by compiling best practices from DMEO and J-PAL's research. It showcases examples and case studies from various Ministries and Departments, highlighting both the advantages and challenges of administrative data usage. The document outlines best practices in data collection, processing, and management to enhance effectiveness. Designed for policymakers at central and state government levels, as well as M&E practitioners, it provides insights on institutionalising data-driven approaches in policymaking.

The ‘Administrative Data Toolkit’ serves as an operational guide to complement the compendium on using administrative data for evidence-based policymaking. It provides actionable recommendations to enhance administrative data systems and processes for effective and secure use. It outlines the data life cycles and standard operating procedures for data collection, handling, access, storage, security, and privacy. This toolkit is designed for policymakers at central and state levels as well as M&E practitioners, and includes checklists and templates to operationalise the various stages of the data life cycle.

To learn more about our work in Administrative Data, contact us at clearsateam@clearsouthasia.org.