How do I get a data.gov.in API key?

Register at data.gov.in, log in, and create an API key from your account / developer section. The key is passed as the api-key query parameter on every request to api.data.gov.in.

Is the data.gov.in API free?

API access with a registered key is free. Individual datasets may have their own licence terms (attribution, non-commercial use, etc.) — read the licence on each dataset page before shipping.

What is a resource ID?

Each dataset on data.gov.in has one or more resources. The resource ID is the string you put in the URL path: /resource/{RESOURCE_ID}. Find it on the dataset’s API or Resources tab — it is not the same as the dataset title.

What are the rate limits?

Limits depend on the resource and portal policy. The dataset page and official documentation list applicable quotas. Start with small limit values while developing and cache responses where licence allows.

Can I call data.gov.in from the browser?

Not reliably. The API is meant for server-side use — CORS is not supported for embedding keys in frontend JavaScript. Proxy through your backend and never expose the API key in client code.

Is data.gov.in the same as CKAN?

The portal is CKAN-based, but you query the documented api.data.gov.in resource endpoints with your API key — not an arbitrary CKAN action URL unless the dataset explicitly documents one.

Is every dataset free to use?

Access via the API is free with a key, but usage rights follow each dataset’s licence. Open the dataset on data.gov.in and read the licence before redistributing or commercial use.

API guides/India

Freemium

data.gov.in API key — register, query datasets & examples

How to get a free data.gov.in API key, find a dataset resource ID, and run your first JSON request. India open data portal — server-side only.

Check official docs

1 provider · 7 min · Limits change — verify before you ship

India

What this is for

data.gov.in is India’s open government data catalogue — not one REST API with a single schema. You register for a free API key, pick a dataset, copy its resource ID, then call `https://api.data.gov.in/resource/{id}` with your key. Each dataset has its own fields, licence, and rate limits.

How to get a data.gov.in API key

Registration is free. The key is tied to your account and is required on every API request as the `api-key` query parameter.

Open https://data.gov.in/ and sign up (or log in).
Go to your account / developer area and create an API key. Copy it once — treat it like a password.
Browse the catalogue, open a dataset, and open the API or Resources tab to find the resource ID (a long string unique to that dataset).
Call the resource URL from a server, Cloud Function, or backend — not from a public browser app (no CORS).

Your first API request

Replace RESOURCE_ID with the ID from the dataset page and YOUR_KEY with your API key. Start with a small limit while you inspect the JSON shape.

Base pattern: GET https://api.data.gov.in/resource/{RESOURCE_ID}?api-key=YOUR_KEY&format=json
Add `&limit=10` and `&offset=0` for pagination on supported resources.
Response is usually JSON with metadata plus a `records` array — field names differ per dataset.
Pipe the response through PureDevKit’s JSON formatter or CSV converter if you need to inspect or export rows.

India API guides on PureDevKit

Pair open-government data with other India fixtures and reference APIs when you build address, banking, or demo flows.

PIN code lookup — /api-guides/pincode-india/
IFSC branch details — /api-guides/ifsc-bank-details/
Validate Indian shapes locally — /tools/india-fixtures/

data.gov.in

Freemium

GET https://api.data.gov.in/resource/{RESOURCE_ID}?api-key=YOUR_KEY&format=json&limit=10&offset=0

Official docs

HTTPS

Yes

API key

Required

CORS

Backend only

Use

See limits

Limits. Free API key. Row limits and quotas vary per resource — check the dataset’s API tab on data.gov.in.

Commercial. Follow each dataset’s licence and attribution requirements before production use.

Note. Resource IDs are per dataset. Licences differ. Store the API key in env vars and proxy requests through your backend.

# Replace RESOURCE_ID from the dataset page on data.gov.in
curl -sS "https://api.data.gov.in/resource/RESOURCE_ID?api-key=YOUR_KEY&format=json&limit=10&offset=0"

PureDevKit does not host or proxy these APIs. Pricing, rate limits, CORS, authentication, and JSON shapes can change without notice. Always confirm the current rules on the provider’s official documentation before you ship.

Frequently asked questions

Related API guides

FreeFreemium

Indian PIN Code API — Free Post Office Lookup

Free Indian PIN code API options: unofficial postalpincode.in for quick lookups vs official data.gov.in datasets. Step-by-step examples for post office, district, and state.

Free

IFSC to bank details API (India)

Look up Indian bank branch details from an 11-character IFSC using Razorpay’s free IFSC API. No key. Confirm limits on their site.

data.gov.in API key — register, query datasets & examples

What this is for

How to get a data.gov.in API key

Your first API request

India API guides on PureDevKit

data.gov.in

Frequently asked questions

Related API guides

Related tools

JSON Formatter

CSV ↔ JSON

cURL → Code

India fixtures