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Freedom251 › Blog › Indian government websites

How to Capture Screenshots of Indian Municipal Websites with Selenium

By Freedom251 Team · · 6 min read

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Use Selenium 4 with Python and Chrome to open the municipal page, wait for the specific content you need, set a consistent window size, and save the current window as a PNG. For pages taller than the viewport, choose a browser-supported full-page method or a carefully checked scroll-and-stitch workflow; a normal window screenshot is not automatically a full-page image.

Capture a municipal webpage as a PNG with Selenium

This runnable example creates a screenshot directory, opens a public page, waits for a visible page element, saves a PNG, and closes the browser even if capture fails. Replace the example URL and the placeholder selector with the intended page and a stable element on that page.

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from pathlib import Path
from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.options import Options
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.support import expected_conditions as EC
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWait

url = "https://example.gov.in/"  # Replace with the intended public municipal page.
out = Path("screenshots/municipal-home.png")
out.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)

options = Options()
options.add_argument("--headless")
options.add_argument("--window-size=1440,1200")

driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)
try:
    driver.set_page_load_timeout(45)
    driver.get(url)

    # Replace with a stable, visible element on the actual site.
    WebDriverWait(driver, 20).until(
        EC.visibility_of_element_located((By.TAG_NAME, "body"))
    )

    saved = driver.save_screenshot(str(out))
    if not saved or not out.is_file():
        raise RuntimeError(f"Screenshot was not saved: {out}")
finally:
    driver.quit()

The example uses illustrative settings: a 1440-by-1200 window, a 45-second page-load timeout, and a 20-second explicit wait. They are not benchmarks or guarantees about municipal sites. Selenium’s Python API documents save_screenshot as a PNG screenshot of the current window; it returns False if saving fails and expects a .png path. See the Selenium Chrome Python API.

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Wait for the content you need

A completed navigation does not mean a JavaScript-rendered service panel, notice, or search result is ready. Selenium explains that document readyState covers assets defined in the HTML, while JavaScript can still change the page afterward. Replace the body wait with a condition for the actual heading, service panel, or other element you need to appear. Prefer explicit waits tied to that condition over a fixed sleep. Avoid mixing implicit and explicit waits, which Selenium warns can produce unpredictable wait times. Read the Selenium waiting strategies guide.

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Choose viewport or full-page output

For the visible window

Set the window dimensions before capture. Responsive breakpoints, text wrapping, and visible content can change with the viewport, so use the same size when comparing pages or repeating a capture. The example saves the current window, not necessarily the entire document.

For a page taller than the viewport

Full-document capture depends on the browser and driver API. Selenium’s Firefox Python API documents get_full_page_screenshot_as_file(...) and related full-page methods; verify that the method is supported by the specific browser and driver versions you use. The general window screenshot method should not be presented as a guaranteed full-page capture. See the Selenium Firefox Python API.

If your chosen setup lacks a full-page method, a scroll-and-stitch workflow is an alternative, but inspect the result for seams, repeated or missing sticky elements, and content that appears only as the page scrolls. If a PDF is acceptable instead of an image, Selenium documents printing to PDF in headless Chromium; that creates a PDF, not a PNG screenshot. See Selenium’s Chrome documentation.

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Make captures repeatable and interpretable

A screenshot is easier to reproduce and assess when its context is recorded alongside the image. For each capture, keep a small text record with:

  • The exact source URL and capture date and time.
  • Viewport dimensions, browser and browser-driver versions, operating system, and locale.
  • Any page state that may affect rendering, such as the selected language or expanded service section.
  • A filename that identifies the site or city, page, viewport, and date—for example, pune-property-tax-desktop-1440x1200-2026-10-03.png.

These are reproducibility practices, not results from a test of a particular municipal portal. If a screenshot is shared in a public report, preserve enough context to distinguish the original capture from an edited image.

Check the target site before automating it

The Government of India’s Guidelines for Indian Government Websites and Apps (GIGW) cover government websites and applications at central, state, district, and local-government levels, and discuss usability, accessibility, and security. That scope does not establish whether a specific municipal portal permits automation or republication of its screenshots. The GIGW 3.0 landing page, published by MeitY, was last updated September 25, 2026.

Before running a capture, review the target site’s terms, notices, access controls, and intended-use restrictions. Keep requests conservative, capture only the pages needed, and do not attempt to bypass a login, CAPTCHA, rate limit, or other access control. Requirements depend on the particular site and how you intend to use the image; there is no universal permission or request-rate rule established for every municipality.

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Troubleshoot common capture problems

Symptom Likely cause What to do
The screenshot shows a loading state or misses a service panel. The page navigated, but JavaScript had not rendered the needed content. Wait explicitly for a stable, visible element in that panel rather than relying on navigation completion or a fixed delay.
The capture is blank or the expected page is missing. The URL may be wrong, navigation may have failed, or the site may require a permitted interaction or page state. Check the URL and browser’s current page, then inspect the site’s published access requirements. Do not work around access controls.
The saved image has the wrong dimensions or layout. The window size or responsive breakpoint differs from the intended capture. Set the window size before navigation and use the same dimensions for subsequent captures.
The image contains only the first screen of a long page. save_screenshot captured the current window rather than a supported full document. Use a verified browser-specific full-page method, inspect a scroll-and-stitch result, or choose headless Chromium PDF printing if a PDF is suitable.
The file is missing or save_screenshot returns False. The output path may be invalid or unwritable. Confirm the parent directory exists and is writable, retain the .png extension, and check the method’s return value as in the example.
The script waits longer than expected or behaves inconsistently. Wait conditions may be mismatched, or implicit and explicit waits may be mixed. Use an explicit condition tied to the page element you need, set a suitable timeout, and do not combine implicit and explicit waits.
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Or skip the browser setup

ScreenshotNeo can capture a URL through one API request. Its cookie/consent-banner handling removes supported banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture; those steps can be turned off. Bot checks/CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and responses identify the page verdict and billing status in headers. Its MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for AI agents using Claude, Cursor, or another MCP client. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000.

curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.gov.in/ -o municipal-page.webp

See the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for request options and response details. ScreenshotNeo offers a direct alternative when you want a screenshot without configuring a browser and driver.

Sign up for 1,000 free screenshots a month with no card.

Frequently asked questions

Does GIGW mean I can automatically capture any municipal page?

No. GIGW’s stated scope includes local-government websites, but that does not decide access or republication rules for a particular portal. Check that site’s own terms and notices.

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Can the script save a PDF instead of an image?

Selenium documents a print-to-PDF path for headless Chromium. It produces a PDF, which is useful for archival reading but is distinct from a PNG screenshot.

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Indian government websitesPythonSeleniumweb screenshots

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