At IndiaClarity, we believe that a useful explanation should be traceable to reliable information.
Many questions about India cannot be answered properly with a single source. Understanding why a railway station was built in a particular location, why a boundary follows an unusual route, how a settlement changed over time, or why an everyday system works differently from what people expect can require information from several sources.
Our research process is designed to bring that information together, verify important details, and explain the result in a way that is understandable to readers.
This page explains how we approach research, sources, data, maps and analysis at IndiaClarity.
1. What We Mean by Research
Research at IndiaClarity generally involves four stages:
Find → Verify → Connect → Explain
We first identify reliable information relevant to the question.
We then check important facts against appropriate sources.
Next, we connect information from different sources when the subject requires historical, geographic, administrative or statistical context.
Finally, we explain the findings in our own words and clearly distinguish sourced information from calculations or interpretation.
The exact process varies according to the subject.
2. Primary Sources Come First
Whenever practical, we prefer to start with information from the organization or authority closest to the subject.
Depending on the article, this can include:
- Government of India departments
- State government departments
- District and local government authorities
- Census of India
- India Post
- Indian Railways and relevant railway authorities
- Government open-data resources
- Survey and mapping authorities
- Official transport authorities
- Public infrastructure agencies
- Historical archives
- Universities and research institutions
A primary source is particularly useful when an article deals with official boundaries, classifications, statistics, infrastructure, government procedures or historical records.
We do not automatically assume that every official source answers every question. The source still needs to be relevant to the specific claim being made.
3. Secondary Sources
Secondary sources can also be useful.
For example, reputable newspapers, established publications, academic writing, books and specialist resources can provide:
- Historical context
- Background information
- Local reporting
- Expert commentary
- Details that may not be available in a single government document
When secondary sources are used, we consider their relevance, credibility, date and relationship to the original information.
For important factual claims, we prefer to trace information back to the underlying or primary source whenever possible.
4. How We Cross-Check Information
A single source may not always provide the complete picture.
For example, an official dataset might provide population information while a historical archive explains how a settlement developed.
In a case like this, the two sources serve different purposes.
We may compare information such as:
- Names and spellings
- Dates
- Locations
- Administrative boundaries
- Population figures
- Infrastructure history
- Geographic descriptions
- Historical changes
- Official classifications
If two reliable sources appear to disagree, we investigate the reason rather than silently choosing whichever figure supports the article.
Differences can sometimes result from different dates, definitions, geographic boundaries or methods of measurement.
5. Data and Statistics
When an article uses statistics, we try to identify:
Who collected the data?
What period does it represent?
What population or geographic area does it cover?
How was it measured or classified?
Has the definition changed over time?
These questions matter because two numbers can appear comparable while actually measuring different things.
For this reason, IndiaClarity aims to provide context around important statistics instead of presenting isolated numbers without explanation.
6. Our Own Calculations
Some IndiaClarity articles may involve calculations based on publicly available information.
For example, we may calculate:
- Percentage changes
- Differences between two periods
- Ratios
- Population or geographic comparisons
- Changes in infrastructure or settlement patterns
- Other figures derived from source data
When a number is calculated by us rather than directly published by the source, we aim to make that distinction clear.
Example
If an official source reports:
2011 population: 10,000
2021 population: 12,000
and IndiaClarity calculates the percentage increase, the underlying population figures are sourced data while the percentage calculation is our derived result.
The purpose of these calculations is to help readers understand the underlying information rather than to create statistics simply for the appearance of originality.
7. Maps and Geographic Research
Maps can provide important context for articles about Indian geography, settlements, infrastructure and administrative boundaries.
Depending on the subject, we may compare:
- Current maps
- Historical maps
- Official geographic information
- Administrative boundaries
- Railway and road routes
- Satellite or geographic information where appropriate
- Other reliable geographic references
A map is not treated as proof of a historical claim by itself.
When explaining why a geographic feature or boundary exists, we look for documentary or historical evidence that supports the explanation.
8. Historical Research
Historical subjects require additional care because records may differ between periods.
When researching historical topics, we may consider:
- Government archives
- Historical records
- Census publications
- Old maps
- Institutional archives
- Academic research
- Books and published historical material
- Contemporary reporting where appropriate
We try to distinguish between:
Documented historical information
and
Later interpretation or commonly repeated explanations.
If the exact origin of something cannot be established confidently from available evidence, we do not present speculation as fact.
9. Local and Administrative Information
India’s administrative structure can be complicated and can change over time.
For articles involving villages, towns, districts, tehsils, blocks, municipalities, panchayats, postal areas or other administrative units, we pay attention to the date and administrative level associated with the information.
A place can have different relationships with different systems.
For example, a village’s:
- postal area
- revenue administration
- local government
- census classification
- police jurisdiction
may not necessarily correspond to exactly the same boundaries.
This is one reason IndiaClarity avoids simplifying complex administrative relationships into a single statement without checking the relevant source.
10. Adding Value Beyond the Source
IndiaClarity does not consider simply rewriting a government webpage to be sufficient.
The value of an article may come from:
- Connecting information scattered across several sources
- Explaining a confusing relationship
- Showing historical change
- Comparing relevant data
- Performing transparent calculations
- Creating an understandable timeline
- Explaining terminology
- Providing geographic context
- Identifying limitations in the available information
- Answering the underlying “why” question
The purpose is to help readers understand something that may otherwise require them to consult several different sources themselves.
11. What We Don’t Do
We aim to avoid:
- Copying articles from other websites
- Rewriting another website paragraph by paragraph
- Publishing unsupported claims as facts
- Inventing statistics
- Presenting speculation as established history
- Creating multiple pages that answer essentially the same question
- Claiming first-hand experience that did not occur
- Using fake quotes or fabricated sources
- Creating pages solely by changing keywords or locations
- Publishing automatically generated material without meaningful review
We also do not treat search-engine rankings as proof that information is accurate.
12. Use of AI and Research Tools
Digital tools, including AI-assisted tools, may be used during research, organization, drafting or editing.
However, tools are treated as assistive tools rather than authoritative sources.
AI-generated information can contain factual errors, outdated information or unsupported claims. Important factual information therefore needs to be checked against appropriate sources before publication.
We do not use AI as a reason to skip research.
The final article should reflect the available evidence and the editorial purpose of IndiaClarity rather than simply reproduce automatically generated text.
13. Source Attribution
When a source materially supports an important claim, we aim to identify the source clearly.
Where appropriate, readers may be directed to the original source so they can examine the information themselves.
We prefer linking readers to the original government, institutional or other authoritative source rather than relying solely on a third-party summary.
Source requirements may differ depending on the subject and the type of information being presented.
14. Limitations and Uncertainty
Not every question has a single definitive answer.
Records may be incomplete, historical documentation may be limited, datasets may use different definitions, and information may change over time.
When those limitations materially affect an article, we aim to explain them.
An honest “the available evidence does not establish this conclusively” is preferable to presenting an attractive explanation without sufficient evidence.
15. Updating Research
Research does not necessarily remain current forever.
When an article depends on information that can change, we may review it when:
- An official source publishes updated information
- Administrative boundaries change
- New historical evidence becomes available
- A dataset is revised
- Infrastructure changes
- A significant factual error is identified
The original publication date and update date may be shown separately when appropriate.
16. Corrections and Reader Contributions
Readers can help improve the accuracy of IndiaClarity.
If you identify:
- A factual error
- An outdated figure
- An incorrect location
- A misleading statement
- A better primary source
- Important information that has been overlooked
you can contact us through the Contact Us page.
When a correction is supported by reliable evidence, we review the information and update the article where appropriate.
Our Research Standard
Before publishing an article, we aim to answer five basic questions:
1. What exactly are we trying to explain?
The article should have a clear question or purpose.
2. What evidence supports the explanation?
Important claims should have an appropriate factual basis.
3. Are the sources relevant to the claim?
A source should actually support the information being presented.
4. What are we adding?
The article should provide explanation, context, analysis, comparison or another meaningful form of value.
5. What are the limitations?
Where the evidence is incomplete or uncertain, that should be acknowledged.
Our Principle
IndiaClarity is built around a simple idea:
Don’t just tell readers what something is. Help them understand why it is that way.
Our research process is intended to make that explanation as clear, transparent and useful as possible.
Last updated: September 2026