Policy Making via Data Analytics

Digitization has seen a rise in India in the past few years. Due to this, huge amount of data about our daily lives, needs and preferences is easily available. This is BIG DATA. If companies are already using this, then why can’t Government? Using big data analytics by government in policy making is a big step in improving its effectiveness. Moreover, government already has data in the form of Aadhaar Card details to start with. This data analysis can be used in a number of areas like formulating better policies for farmers by using Kisan Call Centre records, improving the transportation system, etc. This idea has already been implemented in Singapore and Germany on a smaller scale, but implementing it in India on a large scale can set another benchmark in evidence based policy making. Implementing this idea also faces various challenges like inefficiency of the public sector in India, invasion of right to privacy and not focusing on relevant information on such a large pool of data. The government already has initiated this idea but the need is efficient implementation.