I have read and reviewed the ESSD manuscript and associated WALIS-extracted regional dataset on Last Interglacial sea-level proxies in South Asia and the Indian Ocean, by Ali, Cerrone and Rovere.

The manuscript and the dataset that is its asset subscribes to the WALIS database format, purposely designed for this research subject: Piece by piece create regional databases, incorporating scattered published subregional record, together forming a world atlas of such data. The current paper does so for Iran, Oman, India, Maldives and Cocos Islands. The setup of the paper matches earlier (virtual special issue) contributions on WALIS databases in the ESSD journal, and as such is straight forward. The dataset draws upon 17 references published between 1989 and 2020. Three map figures and a informative longitude/tectonic regime orded Relative Sea Level plot form the figures. 

I have kept annotations of minor corrections as annotations in the manuscript PDF file. Below I list what I regard non-trivial comments.

Ambivalent treatment of 'long-term' uplift in the text 

This regards Line 22 (Abstract), Sections 3.1.1.x, 3.1.2.x  and 3.1.3.x on series of sites along uplifting sections of Iran and Oman coast, and Section 4.1.1. (Discussion of uplift in Iran and Oman).

For some sites, the quoted long-term rates (also called VLM estimates in the database, unit m/kyr)  appear based on the time 'from LIG to now' (e.g. 3.1.1.5 Lipar). For other sites, the uplift rates quoted (in text, or solely in dataset, e.g. 3.1.1.1 Haleh)  it appears to have also included 'older-than LIG terraces', perhaps qualitatively only, perhaps quantitatively (pre-LIG MIS ages assigned to above-LIG preserved levels: explicit mention for 3.1.2.1 Kish Island).  For yet other sites (Northern Oman) there is 'very long'  uplifted setting record (twelve terraces, i.e. many terraces older than LIG). The point than becomes: how long is long in 'long-term'? For yet other site (Oman Sur Lagoon) there is no mention of uplift in the text, and a high value 'for during LIG' (op. cit. note field) entered in the VLM field. As I read it in the database note field, this would be a short-term uplift event all most, recorded during the highstand. This is a different entity than a long-term VLM rate. 

I think the manuscript can be improved on this, by mentioning the differences in duration times for the uplift estimates consistently in the text (and signalled in the database note field). It is currently appropriately mentioned for some of the sites, and left ambivalent for others.  

Mention of remaining geographic gaps

In line 32-34, early in the introduction, the manuscript mentions that Pakistan coast line has no records, where Iran and India have. Iran coast line is indeed reasonably covered. India coastline has long geographic gaps in it too (Fig. 1 shows). I recommend to move the remark from the Introduction to the Discussion section, and briefly mention and address also why along the India coast there are substantial data gaps. I understand this will have part access, national research tradition and such reasons, but there could also be physiographic reasons to discuss.   

Detailed corrections

Oman Sur Lagoon database entry (4501, 4502, 4541): check the recorded VLM rate there

India Rameshwaram site (line 355-363): clarify the lateral/vertical facies/architecture relations between the two coral species patches

India Vettaikaraniruppu site (line 390): be neutral on calling this a highstand marker, as it may be transgression marker from before highstand.

Trivial minor corrections

See the annotated PDF attachment. 

It also includes the above remarks. The uplift remarks are colour coded purple. The other remarks orange.

Best regards, 

Kim Cohen, Utrecht, Netherlands.

I have reviewed the manuscript submitted by Mubashir Ali et al. to Earth System Science Data. This manuscript presents a review and compilation of MIS 5 sea-level proxies from South Asia and the central to northwestern Indian Ocean region, with particular emphasis on the Last Interglacial (LIG MIS 5e).

This region has represented one of the major geographic gaps in the WALIS database for the global compilation of LIG sea-level indicators. I believe this manuscript will make a valuable contribution by expanding the WALIS database's regional coverage.

On the other hand, as noted in the manuscript (Lines 77–90) and the accompanying Excel dataset, most study sites lack precise geographic coordinates and are therefore represented only by approximate locations. In addition, among the 54 elevation measurements, 11 were obtained using the tape-and-Abney-level technique and 25 using barometric altimeters. Furthermore, the measurement techniques were not reported for 5 elevation measurements. Thus, 41 of the 54 elevation measurements were acquired using either relatively old surveying techniques or undocumented measurement methods, both of which are associated with substantial measurement uncertainties. These limitations should be discussed more explicitly in the manuscript.

Nevertheless, despite these uncertainties and the limited availability of high-quality elevation data, the relative sea-level index points (SLIPs) compiled in this study will make a valuable contribution to the global MIS 5 sea-level database.

It is noteworthy that the compiled SLIPs are distributed across tectonically uplifting, stable, and subsiding regions. To better illustrate the pronounced regional variation in SLIP elevations associated with these contrasting tectonic settings, I recommend plotting longitude (or latitude) on the x-axis of Figure 4, with the corresponding tectonic setting indicated above the country names.

Lines 85, 475, and 594–595: I could not locate the reference "Decker et al., 2024" in Google Scholar or on the Quaternary Science Reviews website. Please verify that both the in-text citation and the corresponding reference are correct.

Decker, N., Hoffmann, G., Al-Kindi, A., & Frechen, M.: Uplifted Late Quaternary marine terraces along the Omani coast: Implications for the forebulge of the Makran subduction zone. Quaternary Science Reviews, 326, 108035, 2024.

Lines 318 and 330–331: These sentences do not end with a period, making them appear incomplete. Please check whether any text is missing.

For additional minor corrections, please refer to the annotated PDF.

Best regards,

Woo Hun Ryang, Jeonbuk National University, Republic of Korea.