India's primary healthcare system is acknowledged as poor in terms of meeting the needs and priorities of communities in rural areas. The current health information system at primary health centres accounts for patients treated and monies spent to higher authorities but provides little feedback or scope for local analysis and planning of healthcare. As a response to this situation, the community monitoring exercise was introduced by the National Rural Health Mission in 2007. However, so far there is lack of clarity regarding the social processes that underlie this exercise and how the data collected from citizens and health workers can be integrated with the existing health information system. This research collaboration aims to fill this knowledge gap by putting in place a programme of research, teaching and workshops providing an opportunity for cross-fertilization of expertise and approaches between the LSE and the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.