The characteristics of quiet time equatorial and low‐latitude total electron content over the Indian sector using global ionospheric map (GIM) data (1998–2014) are obtained filtering out the solar flare and storm effects. The results are examined and interpreted in the context of large number of previous studies. The newly found features from this study are as follows. Marked difference in nature of equinoctial asymmetry is noted between solar cycles 23 and 24. Long absence of winter anomaly both during low and high solar activity (HSA) in LL (low‐latitude) regions is found. Climatology of the diurnal cycle is provided in four categories using new criteria for demarcation of solar activity levels. Highest correlation (~77%) between GIM ionospheric electron content (IEC) and PI (solar EUV proxy index) is noted over equator in contrast to previous studies. The minimum positive contribution of PI in variation of IEC requires minimum of 2 years of data, and if more than 7–8 years of data are used, it saturates. Root‐mean‐square width of PI can be used to define the HSA. Strong QBO (quasi‐biennial oscillations) in IEC is noted in tune with the one in PI over both LL locations but QBO remains surprisingly subdued over equator. The semiannual oscillations in GIM‐IEC are found to be stronger at all locations during high solar activity and weaker between 2005 and 2011, whereas the annual oscillations are found to be substantially stronger only during HSA‐23 and weakest over southern LL location throughout 17 years.

A climatological response of low‐latitude ionosphere to geomagnetic storms is presented using long‐term global ionospheric maps data from June 1998 to June 2015 covering two solar cycles 23 and 24. The results are presented for daytime forenoon and afternoon sectors under minor, moderate, and major ionospheric storm categories based on minimum Dst index criterion. For the first time the effectiveness of storms is identified using monthly standard deviation as an indicator of the day to day variability in equatorial and low‐latitude ionosphere. Thus, results on climatology are definitive and form a database that would be comparable to statistical results from any other longitude and time. Seasonal statistics for total storms, effective positive and negative storms, and amplitude of mean seasonal perturbation in total electron content are obtained. Total and effective storms are found to be higher in solar cycle 23 than in 24 and only a couple of effective storms occurred during low solar activity 2007–2009 that too in minor category. Afternoon sector is found to be favorable for occurrence of maximum number of effective positive storms. A latitudinal preference is found for a given storm to be effective in either time sectors. Equinoctial asymmetry in ionospheric response both in terms of occurrence and perturbation amplitude is found. September equinoxes are found to bear maximum total, effective positive and negative storms. Winters are found more prone to negative storms, whereas summers have recorded minimum number of either of storms and minimum perturbation amplitudes.