# Policy indicators, India and South Asia, 2000–2024

**Compare India's policy indicators with seven South Asian neighbours from 2000 to 2024.** This dataset contains World Bank country-year panels for India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka across health, education, jobs, infrastructure, and economic measures. Use it to describe national trends, compare neighbours, or choose outcomes for a more specific poli…

Policy indicators, India and South Asia, 2000–2024 is an open, machine-readable dataset published on Mostly Right as immutable Parquet versions, with a documented column schema, a JSON query API and a direct download. Its first rows are free to read and it is open to AI agents.

## Facts

- Slug: `policy-indicators-india-and-south-asia-20002024`
- Canonical page: https://mostlyright.md/datasets/policy-indicators-india-and-south-asia-20002024
- Publisher: mostlyrightmd (https://mostlyright.md/publishers/mostlyrightmd)
- Published: 2026-09-14T15:14:10.203Z
- Tables: 4
- Formats: Apache Parquet (download), JSON (query and sample)
- Cost: the first 500 rows of each table are free to everyone; querying and downloading need a free account and count against a monthly free allowance unless the workspace is subscribed
- Metadata API: `GET https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/datasets/policy-indicators-india-and-south-asia-20002024`
- Topics: india, public policy, south asia, health, education, employment, infrastructure

## How to use it

1. Read a table's schema — no account needed.
2. Fetch its published sample rows — no account needed.
   The first 500 rows of every table, in stored order, are free to everyone, with or without an account. Without an account you get that sample and nothing else: no filter, sort, search, download or page past row 500.
3. Sign in at https://mostlyright.md/login, connect this dataset to a workspace on its page, and create an `mr_use_` key.
4. Query bounded JSON, or download the complete Parquet snapshot and read it locally.
   A free workspace may read 100,000 rows and run 1,000 queries a UTC month past the sample. The allowance is shared by everyone in the workspace, and a free workspace may have any number of members. Reads count against the workspace whose data or key they use. A subscribed workspace is never counted, for anyone working in it.

Agents can do all of this over MCP at `https://mostlyright.md/api/mcp` — searching, reading schemas and sampling rows work with no credential at all.

## Table: policy_observations

- Table id: `fed8b8c5-210b-489c-8ec8-cf339f4e7255`
- Slug: `policy-observations`
- Immutable version: `d7db5f64-2284-5385-9233-306dc79ffd34`
- Licence: CC-BY-4.0
- Schema: `GET https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/tables/fed8b8c5-210b-489c-8ec8-cf339f4e7255/schema`
- Sample rows, no key: `GET https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/tables/fed8b8c5-210b-489c-8ec8-cf339f4e7255/preview`
- Bounded JSON query: `POST https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/tables/fed8b8c5-210b-489c-8ec8-cf339f4e7255/query` with `x-api-key: mr_use_…`
- Full Parquet snapshot: `GET https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/tables/fed8b8c5-210b-489c-8ec8-cf339f4e7255/current` with `x-api-key: mr_use_…` (application/vnd.apache.parquet)

### Columns (11)

| Column | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `country_code` | string | ISO3 country code returned by the World Bank. |
| `country_name` | string | Country name returned by the World Bank. |
| `year` | integer | Annual reference year; not an observation publication date. |
| `indicator_code` | string | World Bank indicator identifier. |
| `indicator_name` | string | Full indicator name returned by the World Bank. |
| `value` | decimal | Published indicator value in the row-specific unit; no imputation; stored to 15 decimal places. |
| `unit` | string | Unit assigned from the named indicator definition; do not combine values across different indicators. |
| `policy_sector` | string | Analyst-assigned topic grouping for browsing; not a causal classification. |
| `footnote` | string | World Bank country-year-indicator footnote when supplied. |
| `observation_status` | string | Publisher observation status code when supplied; empty is not a quality guarantee. |
| `source_url` | string | Exact World Bank API query for the acquired source. |

## Table: indicator_dictionary

- Table id: `a9f1a8d0-3abc-46af-b2bc-bbad74d68b39`
- Slug: `indicator-dictionary`
- Immutable version: `3dafd25b-73c1-50d0-ab8c-dfe492296a16`
- Licence: CC-BY-4.0
- Schema: `GET https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/tables/a9f1a8d0-3abc-46af-b2bc-bbad74d68b39/schema`
- Sample rows, no key: `GET https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/tables/a9f1a8d0-3abc-46af-b2bc-bbad74d68b39/preview`
- Bounded JSON query: `POST https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/tables/a9f1a8d0-3abc-46af-b2bc-bbad74d68b39/query` with `x-api-key: mr_use_…`
- Full Parquet snapshot: `GET https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/tables/a9f1a8d0-3abc-46af-b2bc-bbad74d68b39/current` with `x-api-key: mr_use_…` (application/vnd.apache.parquet)

### Columns (10)

| Column | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `indicator_code` | string | World Bank series identifier. |
| `panel_column` | string | Corresponding measure column in the country-year panels. |
| `indicator_name` | string | Full series name published by the World Bank. |
| `unit` | string | Measurement unit assigned from the published indicator definition. |
| `policy_sector` | string | Analyst-assigned topic grouping. |
| `definition` | string | Unabridged World Bank source note defining the indicator. |
| `source_organization` | string | Originating data providers credited by the World Bank. |
| `publisher_unit` | string | World Bank unit field, frequently empty; the unit column supplies the semantic unit. |
| `source_id` | string | World Bank source identifier; 2 identifies World Development Indicators. |
| `metadata_url` | string | Exact publisher metadata query. |

## Table: india_policy_panel

- Table id: `842f2727-487e-4900-8716-eca3cbf8c8ef`
- Slug: `india-policy-panel`
- Immutable version: `2a02f5f6-d65b-5cac-844b-270023b9a0b0`
- Licence: CC-BY-4.0
- Schema: `GET https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/tables/842f2727-487e-4900-8716-eca3cbf8c8ef/schema`
- Sample rows, no key: `GET https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/tables/842f2727-487e-4900-8716-eca3cbf8c8ef/preview`
- Bounded JSON query: `POST https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/tables/842f2727-487e-4900-8716-eca3cbf8c8ef/query` with `x-api-key: mr_use_…`
- Full Parquet snapshot: `GET https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/tables/842f2727-487e-4900-8716-eca3cbf8c8ef/current` with `x-api-key: mr_use_…` (application/vnd.apache.parquet)

### Columns (22)

| Column | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `country_code` | string | ISO3 country code returned by the World Bank. |
| `country_name` | string | Country name returned by the World Bank. |
| `year` | integer | Annual reference year; not an observation publication date. |
| `population` | decimal | Total population. World Bank series SP.POP.TOTL; unit: people. |
| `urban_population_pct` | decimal | Urban population as a percentage of the total population. World Bank series SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS; unit: % of population. |
| `gdp_current_usd` | decimal | Gross domestic product in current US dollars; not adjusted for inflation. World Bank series NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; unit: current USD. |
| `gdp_per_capita_constant_2015_usd` | decimal | Gross domestic product per person in constant 2015 US dollars. World Bank series NY.GDP.PCAP.KD; unit: constant 2015 USD per person. |
| `gdp_growth_pct` | decimal | Annual growth of real gross domestic product. World Bank series NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG; unit: annual %. |
| `inflation_cpi_pct` | decimal | Annual percentage change in the consumer price index. World Bank series FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG; unit: annual %. |
| `unemployment_pct` | decimal | Unemployment as a percentage of the total labour force, modeled ILO estimate. World Bank series SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS; unit: % of total labour force. |
| `female_labor_force_pct` | decimal | Female labour force participation for ages 15 and older, modeled ILO estimate. World Bank series SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS; unit: % of female population ages 15+. |
| `secondary_enrollment_gross_pct` | decimal | Gross secondary school enrollment ratio; may exceed 100 percent. World Bank series SE.SEC.ENRR; unit: gross enrollment %. |
| `education_spending_gdp_pct` | decimal | Government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP. World Bank series SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS; unit: % of GDP. |
| `life_expectancy_years` | decimal | Life expectancy at birth for both sexes. World Bank series SP.DYN.LE00.IN; unit: years. |
| `infant_mortality_per_1000` | decimal | Infant mortality rate, deaths before age one per 1000 live births. World Bank series SP.DYN.IMRT.IN; unit: deaths per 1000 live births. |
| `under5_mortality_per_1000` | decimal | Under-five mortality rate per 1000 live births. World Bank series SH.DYN.MORT; unit: deaths per 1000 live births. |
| `government_health_spending_gdp_pct` | decimal | Domestic general government health expenditure as a percentage of GDP. World Bank series SH.XPD.GHED.GD.ZS; unit: % of GDP. |
| `basic_drinking_water_pct` | decimal | Population using at least basic drinking water services. World Bank series SH.H2O.BASW.ZS; unit: % of population. |
| `basic_sanitation_pct` | decimal | Population using at least basic sanitation services. World Bank series SH.STA.BASS.ZS; unit: % of population. |
| `electricity_access_pct` | decimal | Population with access to electricity. World Bank series EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS; unit: % of population. |
| `internet_users_pct` | decimal | Individuals using the Internet as a percentage of the population. World Bank series IT.NET.USER.ZS; unit: % of population. |
| `available_indicators` | integer | Number of the 18 selected indicators with a non-null value for this country-year. |

## Table: south_asia_comparison_panel

- Table id: `b0ad352c-36b6-44c4-9f09-51bffbfe83cc`
- Slug: `south-asia-comparison-panel`
- Immutable version: `8e894d4f-0251-5ea4-9615-ec8e76f910eb`
- Licence: CC-BY-4.0
- Schema: `GET https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/tables/b0ad352c-36b6-44c4-9f09-51bffbfe83cc/schema`
- Sample rows, no key: `GET https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/tables/b0ad352c-36b6-44c4-9f09-51bffbfe83cc/preview`
- Bounded JSON query: `POST https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/tables/b0ad352c-36b6-44c4-9f09-51bffbfe83cc/query` with `x-api-key: mr_use_…`
- Full Parquet snapshot: `GET https://mostlyright.md/api/v2/public/tables/b0ad352c-36b6-44c4-9f09-51bffbfe83cc/current` with `x-api-key: mr_use_…` (application/vnd.apache.parquet)

### Columns (22)

| Column | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `country_code` | string | ISO3 country code returned by the World Bank. |
| `country_name` | string | Country name returned by the World Bank. |
| `year` | integer | Annual reference year; not an observation publication date. |
| `population` | decimal | Total population. World Bank series SP.POP.TOTL; unit: people. |
| `urban_population_pct` | decimal | Urban population as a percentage of the total population. World Bank series SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS; unit: % of population. |
| `gdp_current_usd` | decimal | Gross domestic product in current US dollars; not adjusted for inflation. World Bank series NY.GDP.MKTP.CD; unit: current USD. |
| `gdp_per_capita_constant_2015_usd` | decimal | Gross domestic product per person in constant 2015 US dollars. World Bank series NY.GDP.PCAP.KD; unit: constant 2015 USD per person. |
| `gdp_growth_pct` | decimal | Annual growth of real gross domestic product. World Bank series NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG; unit: annual %. |
| `inflation_cpi_pct` | decimal | Annual percentage change in the consumer price index. World Bank series FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG; unit: annual %. |
| `unemployment_pct` | decimal | Unemployment as a percentage of the total labour force, modeled ILO estimate. World Bank series SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS; unit: % of total labour force. |
| `female_labor_force_pct` | decimal | Female labour force participation for ages 15 and older, modeled ILO estimate. World Bank series SL.TLF.CACT.FE.ZS; unit: % of female population ages 15+. |
| `secondary_enrollment_gross_pct` | decimal | Gross secondary school enrollment ratio; may exceed 100 percent. World Bank series SE.SEC.ENRR; unit: gross enrollment %. |
| `education_spending_gdp_pct` | decimal | Government expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP. World Bank series SE.XPD.TOTL.GD.ZS; unit: % of GDP. |
| `life_expectancy_years` | decimal | Life expectancy at birth for both sexes. World Bank series SP.DYN.LE00.IN; unit: years. |
| `infant_mortality_per_1000` | decimal | Infant mortality rate, deaths before age one per 1000 live births. World Bank series SP.DYN.IMRT.IN; unit: deaths per 1000 live births. |
| `under5_mortality_per_1000` | decimal | Under-five mortality rate per 1000 live births. World Bank series SH.DYN.MORT; unit: deaths per 1000 live births. |
| `government_health_spending_gdp_pct` | decimal | Domestic general government health expenditure as a percentage of GDP. World Bank series SH.XPD.GHED.GD.ZS; unit: % of GDP. |
| `basic_drinking_water_pct` | decimal | Population using at least basic drinking water services. World Bank series SH.H2O.BASW.ZS; unit: % of population. |
| `basic_sanitation_pct` | decimal | Population using at least basic sanitation services. World Bank series SH.STA.BASS.ZS; unit: % of population. |
| `electricity_access_pct` | decimal | Population with access to electricity. World Bank series EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS; unit: % of population. |
| `internet_users_pct` | decimal | Individuals using the Internet as a percentage of the population. World Bank series IT.NET.USER.ZS; unit: % of population. |
| `available_indicators` | integer | Number of the 18 selected indicators with a non-null value for this country-year. |

## Citing this dataset

Cite the dataset by name and canonical URL (https://mostlyright.md/datasets/policy-indicators-india-and-south-asia-20002024), the table, and the immutable `version_id` the rows came from. A query response carries `table.version_id` and `table.content_digest`; a download carries a strong ETag and a `Content-Digest` header.