About Us

We utilise open data to inform public understanding on a range of issues, with the aim of fostering better governance and more transparency and accountability in governance. Founded in late 2011 by Govindraj Ethiraj, a television and print journalist and former Founder Editor-in-Chief of Bloomberg TV India, IndiaSpend is rapidly growing to become an ‘agency of record’ on data and facts on the Indian social and political economy, particularly in areas such as education and healthcare.

We believe data is crucial for public discourse on important policy issues, and our stories strive to foster data-led discussion and analysis at a time when citizens are becoming an active part of the governance process. A related objective is also to make the use of data exciting and a first recourse for young India, rather than opinion, by reaching them through the social media and in innovative formats.

In March 2014, we also launched FactChecker.in, a dedicated fact-checking initiative that examines statements and assertions by prominent figures in public life for both accuracy and context. In April 2019, we launched health-check.in, a one-of-its-kind resource on public health reporting in India.

We are happy and proud to announce that IndiaSpend has completed 10 years this year.
We began with the objective of addressing the shortage of data- and evidence-led journalism in India. Back then, the now ubiquitous “data desk” was not even conceived of in most newsrooms. Over a decade, we have shone the light on the essentials that affect our lives: public health, education, gender equity, social justice, climate change and environment, and livelihoods.

IndiaSpend is a non-profit and a project of The Spending & Policy Research Foundation based in Lower Parel in Mumbai, and registered as a Charitable Trust with the Charity Commissioner, Mumbai.