esankhyiki

Python client for India's National Statistical Office (NSO/MoSPI) data portal

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Access 500+ statistical indicators across 22 datasets covering employment, prices, industry, GDP, health, education, environment, trade, and more - directly from Python.

Installation

pip install mospi-esankhyiki

Quick Start

import esankhyiki

# Step 1: Discover available datasets
datasets = esankhyiki.list_datasets()

# Step 2: Get indicators for a dataset
indicators = esankhyiki.get_indicators("PLFS")

# Step 3: Get valid filter values for an indicator
metadata = esankhyiki.get_metadata("PLFS", indicator_code=1, frequency_code=1)

# Step 4: Fetch the data
data = esankhyiki.get_data("PLFS", {
    "indicator_code": 1,
    "frequency_code": 1,
    "year": "2023-24",
    "state_code": 99,
    "gender_code": 3,
    "age_code": 1,
    "sector_code": 3,
})

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The 4-Step Workflow

The API follows a sequential discovery workflow. Filter codes are dataset-specific - always discover them through the workflow instead of guessing.

list_datasets()  ->  get_indicators()  ->  get_metadata()  ->  get_data()
      |                    |                    |                  |
  Find the right      See what's          Get valid          Fetch the
    dataset           measured          filter values       actual data

Why this order matters: get_metadata() returns the exact values (state codes, year strings, gender codes, etc.) that get_data() expects. Passing arbitrary values will raise InvalidFilterError.

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API Reference

list_datasets(format="dict")

Returns an overview of all 22 MoSPI statistical datasets.

datasets = esankhyiki.list_datasets()
datasets_df = esankhyiki.list_datasets(format="df")

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get_indicators(dataset, format="dict")

Returns available indicators for a given dataset.

indicators = esankhyiki.get_indicators("PLFS")

Notes by dataset:

• PLFS, ASUSE - indicators are grouped by frequency_code (1=Annual, 2=Quarterly, 3=Monthly for PLFS)
• NSS79 - indicators are grouped by survey_code (1=CAMS, 2=AYUSH)
• CPI - returns available base years instead of named indicators
• IIP, WPI - these datasets have no sub-indicators; call get_metadata() directly

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get_metadata(dataset, ..., format="dict")

Returns valid filter values (states, years, quarters, gender codes, etc.) for a given dataset and indicator. The returned filter_values show exactly what values are accepted by get_data().

Full signature:

esankhyiki.get_metadata(
    dataset,
    indicator_code=None,        # int - required for most datasets
    base_year=None,             # str - required for CPI, IIP, NAS
    level=None,                 # str - required for CPI ("Group" or "Item")
    frequency=None,             # str - required for IIP ("Annually" or "Monthly")
    classification_year=None,   # str - required for ASI (e.g. "2008")
    frequency_code=None,        # int - required for PLFS and ASUSE (1=Annual, 2=Quarterly)
    series=None,                # str - for CPI and NAS ("Current" or "Back")
    use_of_energy_balance_code=None,  # int - for ENERGY (1=Supply, 2=Consumption)
    sub_indicator_code=None,    # int - for RBI (alternative to indicator_code)
    format="dict",
)

Required params by dataset:

Dataset	Required params
PLFS	indicator_code, frequency_code
CPI	base_year, level
IIP	base_year, frequency
ASI	classification_year
NAS	indicator_code, base_year, frequency_code
WPI	(none)
ENERGY	indicator_code
AISHE	indicator_code
ASUSE	indicator_code, frequency_code
GENDER	indicator_code
NFHS	indicator_code
ENVSTATS	indicator_code
RBI	indicator_code or sub_indicator_code
NSS77	indicator_code
NSS78	indicator_code
CPIALRL	indicator_code
HCES	indicator_code
TUS	indicator_code
EC	indicator_code (1=EC6, 2=EC5, 3=EC4)
NSS79	indicator_code
UDISE	indicator_code
MNRE	indicator_code (1=Solar, 2=Wind, 3=Hydro, 4=Bio, 5=Total)

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get_data(dataset, filters, format="dict")

Fetches statistical data. Use filter values returned by get_metadata().

data = esankhyiki.get_data("PLFS", {
    "indicator_code": 1,
    "frequency_code": 1,
    "year": "2023-24",
    "state_code": 99,
    "gender_code": 3,
    "age_code": 1,
    "sector_code": 3,
})

Pagination (where supported):

data = esankhyiki.get_data("PLFS", {
    ...,
    "limit": 50,
    "page": 2,
})

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Output Formats

All four functions accept a format parameter:

Value	Returns
"dict" (default)	Python dict
"df" or "dataframe"	pandas DataFrame
"csv"	CSV string

# Default dict
data = esankhyiki.get_data("PLFS", filters)

# DataFrame
df = esankhyiki.get_data("PLFS", filters, format="df")

# CSV
csv = esankhyiki.get_data("PLFS", filters, format="csv")

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Datasets

Dataset	Name	Coverage
PLFS	Periodic Labour Force Survey	Jobs, unemployment, wages
CPI	Consumer Price Index	Retail inflation, price indices
IIP	Index of Industrial Production	Manufacturing, mining output
ASI	Annual Survey of Industries	Factory financials, employment
NAS	National Accounts Statistics	GDP, GVA, national income
WPI	Wholesale Price Index	Wholesale inflation
ENERGY	Energy Statistics	Energy production and consumption
AISHE	Higher Education Survey	Universities, enrolment, GER
ASUSE	Unincorporated Enterprises	Informal sector, MSMEs
GENDER	Gender Statistics	147 indicators across all domains
NFHS	National Family Health Survey	Health, fertility, mortality
ENVSTATS	Environment Statistics	Climate, biodiversity, pollution
RBI	RBI Statistics	Trade, forex, exchange rates
NSS77	NSS 77th Round	Agricultural households
NSS78	NSS 78th Round	Living conditions
CPIALRL	CPI for Rural Labourers	Rural inflation
HCES	Household Consumption	Spending, poverty, Gini
TUS	Time Use Survey	Time allocation, unpaid work
EC	Economic Census	District-wise establishments
NSS79	NSS 79th Round	Education, health, digital literacy (CAMS/AYUSH)
UDISE	Unified District Information System	School education statistics
MNRE	Renewable Energy (MNRE)	State-wise installed capacity for solar, wind, hydro, bio, and total renewable power

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Examples

Unemployment Rate (PLFS)

import esankhyiki

# Discover valid filter values first
meta = esankhyiki.get_metadata("PLFS", indicator_code=3, frequency_code=1)

df = esankhyiki.get_data("PLFS", {
    "indicator_code": 3,      # Unemployment Rate
    "frequency_code": 1,      # Annual
    "year": "2023-24",
    "state_code": 99,         # All India
    "gender_code": 3,         # Person (all genders combined)
    "age_code": 1,
    "sector_code": 3,         # Rural + Urban combined
}, format="df")

GDP / National Accounts (NAS)

meta = esankhyiki.get_metadata(
    "NAS",
    indicator_code=1,
    base_year="2022-23",
    frequency_code=1,
    series="Current",
)

df = esankhyiki.get_data("NAS", {
    "indicator_code": 1,
    "base_year": "2022-23",
    "series": "Current",
    "frequency_code": 1,
}, format="df")

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

# CPI is auto-routed: pass level="Group" for group-level, level="Item" for item-level
meta = esankhyiki.get_metadata("CPI", base_year="2024", level="Group", series="Current")

df = esankhyiki.get_data("CPI", {
    "base_year": "2024",
    "year": "2026",
    "series": "Current",
}, format="df")

Industrial Production (IIP)

# IIP is auto-routed: annual if no month_code, monthly if month_code is present
meta = esankhyiki.get_metadata("IIP", base_year="2011-12", frequency="Annually")

df = esankhyiki.get_data("IIP", {
    "base_year": "2011-12",
    "financial_year": "2023-24",
}, format="df")

Wholesale Price Index (WPI)

# WPI requires no indicator_code
meta = esankhyiki.get_metadata("WPI")

df = esankhyiki.get_data("WPI", {
    "base_year": "2011-12",
    "year": "2023-24",
    "series": "All Commodities",
}, format="df")

Annual Survey of Industries (ASI)

meta = esankhyiki.get_metadata("ASI", classification_year="2008")

df = esankhyiki.get_data("ASI", {
    "classification_year": "2008",
    "indicator_code": 1,
    "year": "2021-22",
}, format="df")

Economic Census (District-wise, EC)

The EC dataset has two modes: ranking (top/bottom N districts) and detail (row-level records).

# Check available filters
meta = esankhyiki.get_metadata("EC", indicator_code=1)  # EC6 (2013-14)

# Ranking mode - top 5 districts in Assam by establishments
data = esankhyiki.get_data("EC", {
    "indicator_code": 1,      # EC6
    "state": "18",            # Assam
    "mode": "ranking",
    "top5opt": "2",           # Top 5
})

# Detail mode - paginated row-level data (20 rows per page)
data = esankhyiki.get_data("EC", {
    "indicator_code": 1,
    "state": "18",
    "mode": "detail",
    "pageNum": "1",
})

Gender Statistics

indicators = esankhyiki.get_indicators("GENDER")
meta = esankhyiki.get_metadata("GENDER", indicator_code=1)

df = esankhyiki.get_data("GENDER", {
    "indicator_code": 1,
    "year": "2021",
}, format="df")

RBI / Trade Statistics

# RBI uses sub_indicator_code internally; pass indicator_code and it maps automatically
meta = esankhyiki.get_metadata("RBI", indicator_code=1)

df = esankhyiki.get_data("RBI", {
    "indicator_code": 1,
    "year": "2023-24",
}, format="df")

Renewable Energy Capacity (MNRE)

# type_of_renewable_energy_code: 1=Solar, 2=Wind, 3=Hydro, 4=Bio, 5=Total
meta = esankhyiki.get_metadata("MNRE", indicator_code=1)  # Solar — returns valid category_codes

df = esankhyiki.get_data("MNRE", {
    "type_of_renewable_energy_code": 1,  # Solar Power
    "state_code": 36,                    # All India
    "year": "2023",
}, format="df")

---

Error Handling

from esankhyiki.exceptions import (
    InvalidDatasetError,
    InvalidFilterError,
    APIError,
    NoDataError,
)

try:
    data = esankhyiki.get_data("PLFS", {
        "bogus_param": 1,
        "indicator_code": 1,
        "frequency_code": 1,
    })
except InvalidFilterError as e:
    print(e)  # Shows invalid params and valid alternatives
except InvalidDatasetError as e:
    print(e)  # Shows valid dataset names
except NoDataError as e:
    print(e)  # Valid request, but no matching rows
except APIError as e:
    print(e)  # Upstream API / network / server failure

Error contract:

Exception	When raised
InvalidDatasetError	Dataset name is not one of the 22 known datasets
InvalidFilterError	A filter param is missing, invalid, or not accepted by the endpoint
NoDataError	Request was valid but returned zero rows
APIError	Network failure, timeout, or upstream 5xx error

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Live API Notes

• This package wraps live MoSPI endpoints. Some datasets may temporarily return No Data Found or upstream 5xx errors even when the code and filters are valid.
• Those cases surface explicitly as NoDataError or APIError rather than silently returning empty results.
• The recommended workflow is always: list_datasets() -> get_indicators() -> get_metadata() -> get_data().
• The client retries on 429, 500, 502, 503, and 504 status codes (up to 3 times with backoff).

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Testing

# Non-network contract tests only
pytest -q -m "not network"

# All tests including live endpoint calls
pytest -q

To verify release artifacts locally:

python -m build

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Related

• e-Sankhyiki MCP Server - MCP server for accessing MoSPI data through AI assistants (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, etc.)
• MoSPI Open APIs - Official API documentation and e-Sankhyiki portal

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Contributing

We welcome contributions! See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.

License

MIT License. See LICENSE for details.

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Acknowledgments

Made in partnership with Bharat Digital in pursuit of modernising and humanising how governments use technology in service of the public.