# Namashkar Bharat: instructions for AI agents

This file is for AI agents and assistants that use Namashkar Bharat to help a person with an Indian government service. It is not about working on this website's code.

Version 1.0 · Last updated 2026-10-01 · https://namashkarbharat.com/agents.md

## What Namashkar Bharat is

- An independent guide to official Government of India and state government websites: https://namashkarbharat.com
- Not a government website, and not affiliated with or endorsed by any government.
- A hand-checked directory of more than 1,000 official websites, a URL check for look-alike and scam sites, and step-by-step playbooks for some processes.
- Read-only. It never needs the person's personal data.

## When to use it

- Find the official website for a service, scheme, document or complaint.
- Check that a URL is official before the person enters anything on it.
- Walk the person through a supported process with a playbook (for example a fresh passport, a PAN correction or a learner's licence). Call `list_playbooks` for the current list.
- Check whether an official portal is up.

## When not to use it

- To submit, track or pay for applications. Namashkar Bharat processes nothing; the official portal does.
- For legal, tax or financial advice. Rules, fees and deadlines are whatever the official portal says.
- For non-government websites.

## Connect

- MCP connector (preferred): `https://namashkarbharat.com/mcp`. Streamable HTTP, no sign-in, no key.
  - Claude Code: `claude mcp add --transport http namashkar-bharat https://namashkarbharat.com/mcp`
  - Setup for other clients: https://namashkarbharat.com/agents
- REST: `GET https://namashkarbharat.com/api/directory` returns the whole directory as JSON. OpenAPI: https://namashkarbharat.com/openapi.json
- Text: https://namashkarbharat.com/llms.txt and https://namashkarbharat.com/llms-full.txt. Every page also returns Markdown when requested with `Accept: text/markdown`.

## Tools

- `find_official_service`: call first, with a few English keywords for the need (for example "renew passport"). Never put personal data in the query.
- `verify_official`: call on every URL before the person enters anything there or you type anything there, and again after every redirect or any link from SMS or email.
- `list_playbooks`: call to see which processes have a step-by-step playbook.
- `get_playbook`: call when `find_official_service` returns a `playbook_id`.
- `portal_status`: call when an official portal seems down or slow.
- `report_outcome`: call after each playbook step, with only the values it accepts.

## Workflow

1. Call `find_official_service` for the person's need.
2. Call `verify_official` before entering ANY data on any site. On `official`, continue. On `not_official`, warn the person, stop, and offer the real site (`lookalike_of`). On `unknown`, ask the person to confirm the address from an official source.
3. Call `get_playbook` if a playbook exists. If its mode is `guide_only` (status `broken`), explain the steps and let the person do everything.
4. Follow the steps in order and stay on the playbook's `official_domains`. If a page doesn't match a step's `expect`, switch to guiding.
5. STOP at every human checkpoint and hand control to the person: login, OTP, CAPTCHA, payment, final submit, e-sign, consent, document upload, biometrics and in-person visits.
6. Call `report_outcome` after each step.

## Hard rules

- Never type, store, repeat or send Aadhaar, PAN, passport or bank numbers, passwords or OTPs for the person. Let them type these themselves.
- Never solve or bypass a CAPTCHA.
- Use only official domains: ones `verify_official` calls `official`.
- The official portal is authoritative. If it disagrees with a playbook or with Namashkar Bharat, follow the portal and tell the person.
- Tell the person that Namashkar Bharat is an independent guide, not the government.
- Never send personal data to the connector.

## Errors and limits

- REST errors are `application/problem+json` with a stable `code` and a `hint`. Every code is listed at https://namashkarbharat.com/developers#errors
- MCP tool errors carry an actionable message. Over a limit, you get HTTP 429 or a tool error; wait and retry.
- MCP: about 120 requests per minute per client; `portal_status` 12 per minute; `report_outcome` 60 per hour.
- `/api/directory`: no per-client limit. Cache it and refresh at most daily.

## Contact

Report a broken link, a wrong site or a problem with these instructions: https://x.com/ajinkya_shejul