Significance of Principles of Research Data Management in Curating Government Official Data: Perspectives in Indian Subcontinent

Abstract

Effective research data management (RDM) has been playing a crucial role in ensuring the reliability, accessibility, and longevity of valuable information, particularly within the context of curating official government data. In this paper, the significance of the principles of RDM in the Indian Subcontinent has been explored by examining the perspectives about the curation of official government data. The region has witnessed a rapid expansion in data-driven decision-making processes across the various governmental sectors in recent years. However, the research data management in this context has often been overlooked, leading to data loss, inaccessibility, and poor data quality. Therefore, implementing robust principles of RDM becomes imperative to address these challenges effectively. This paper aims to highlight the importance of RDM principles in curating official government data. It sheds light on the benefits of adopting such principles, including enhanced data integrity, improved data sharing and collaboration, and increased reproducibility of research findings. The same also explores the specific perspectives considering the region’s unique socio-cultural, economic, and technological factors. It addressed the challenges faced in implementing RDM principles, such as limited awareness, inadequate infrastructure, and varying levels of digital literacy among data custodians and researchers. To effectively promote the adoption of RDM principles in the curation of government official data, the study outlines essential strategies and recommendations. These mainly include capacity-building programs, training workshops, the development of RDM guidelines, and the establishment of dedicated data repositories or platforms for data sharing and preservation. By implementing these principles, governments can ensure the preservation and accessibility of valuable data, leading to evidence-based policy decisions, enhanced research outcomes, and improved governance. This study seeks to contribute towardsadvancing RDM practices and encourage their widespread adoption in the subcontinent. Keywords: Research Data management, Data Curation, Preservation, Government Data, Indian Sub-Continent