Background Few COVID-19 vaccines were anticipated in India in early 2021. However, little was known about COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among the public. . We conducted a nationwide study to understand the public’s perception about COVID-19 vaccines in December 2020. Method An online survey was deployed using a multi-item validated questionnaire via social media websites and networking platforms for adults in India. . We asked participants about vaccination willingness, concerns about vaccination, and their sociodemographic characteristics. Results Nationwide, 1638 participants from 27 states/union territories took the survey where the majority of the participant were males (55%), 18–30 years old (52%), urban dwellers (69%), college-educated (81%), without a history of COVID-19 infection (92%). More than a fifth were either unaware of the vaccines (20.63%) or were not sure if they will get the vaccine (27%), and 10% refused to obtain the vaccine. Almost 70% of the population had concerns regarding the vaccines. . Statistically significant differences (p<0.01) in awareness about vaccine and acceptability were observed based on age, educational qualifications, and employment status. Conclusion While the majority of Indians would accept the vaccine, given the large population of India, even a small proportion would translate to millions of unvaccinated individuals Strategic measures and policy decisions to enhance the rate of COVID-19 vaccination should be continuously planned and implemented in India.