Only 5% of SPOs in India Are ‘Beginners’ in Data Use, Shows ISDM CDSSI’s State of the Sector Report

This is a press release about the foundational findings of the State of the Sector report by CDSSI. The article details that only 5.3% of India’s Social Purpose Organisations (SPOs) fall into the ‘Beginner’ category, suggesting a widespread, baseline adoption of data across the sector. However, the report also identifies a clear “capability gap,” noting that while 66% of SPOs view data as vital, only 10% possess in-house data science expertise. By highlighting that approximately 70% of organisations are in the “Emerging” or “Progressing” stages, the authors emphasise the need for a cultural shift from using data for donor compliance to using it for collaborative learning and strategic programmatic impact.