About Us

About IHDS

The India Human Development Survey (IHDS) is a nationally representative, multi-topic panel survey designed to capture the evolving social and economic fabric of India. Jointly conducted by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) and the University of Maryland, IHDS offers a rich, people-centered dataset that supports evidence-based policymaking and in-depth academic research. Launched in 2004–05, the first round of IHDS covered over 41,000 households across India, collecting detailed information on income, employment, education, health, fertility, gender relations, social capital, and more. The second round of the survey was conducted in 2011–12 with an 85% reinterview rate, making IHDS one of the only longitudinal surveys in India capable of tracking changes in human development over time. At its two-decade mark, IHDS stands as a critical public resource for understanding how lives have transformed in a rapidly changing India. The survey has been cited in hundreds of academic papers, policy briefs, and news articles, and is widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive sources of household-level data in the country. IHDS is committed to transparency and open access. Its datasets are freely available to researchers worldwide, fostering a global community of scholars and practitioners invested in India’s development story.