The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has organized the third round of its Sensitization cum Review Meeting of Statistical Advisers, bringing together key officials from various central ministries to strengthen institutional coordination and build a robust, data-driven decision-making ecosystem for the government.
The meeting, held at Vigyan Bhawan, was attended by statistical advisers and representatives from multiple ministries, as well as senior officers from MoSPI. The inaugural session featured distinguished speakers.
Key Highlights from the Meeting
The ex-Chairman, Capacity Building Commission in his keynote address, emphasized the need for India’s data system to become the “gold standard” globally. He called for a transition to a paperless, online, digital, and real-time NSS (National Sample Survey) and advocated for the use of AI at all levels for statistical officers. He also lauded MoSPI’s initiatives like the National Metadata Structure and e-Sankhyiki portal for enhancing data accessibility and quality.
The CEO of NITI Aayog, commended MoSPI for releasing monthly PLFS (Periodic Labour Force Survey) data, which he noted as immensely valuable for micro-level policy formulation. He stressed the importance of high-quality data for evidence-based policymaking and urged for the regular release of economic indicators on a monthly or quarterly basis.
The Secretary, MeitY, highlighted the crucial role of data in modern applications such as AI-driven analysis, machine learning, and cloud-based data lakes. He stressed the need for greater integration and interoperability of datasets across different ministries while commending MoSPI’s data collection systems for protecting individual privacy.
The Secretary of MoSPI, stated that statistical advisers are not just custodians of data but are active partners in evidence-based governance. He highlighted the progress of the e-Sankhyiki portal, a unified platform for official datasets, with plans to integrate key datasets from multiple ministries by 2025-26.
The meeting featured thematic presentations on topics such as Data Standardization and Harmonization, strengthening SDG monitoring, and enhancing industrial statistics. Discussions focused on improving data quality, bridging administrative data gaps, and harnessing emerging technologies like AI and machine learning. The session ended with MoSPI reaffirming its commitment to collaborating with all stakeholders to develop a modern and robust national statistical system