STRENGTHENING EVIDENCE-BASED POLICYMAKING AND PLANNING
STRENGTHENING EVIDENCE-BASED POLICYMAKING AND PLANNING
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has undertaken several significant major reforms to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and planning by enhancing the quality, frequency, timeliness, granularity, harmonization, and accessibility of official statistics. A major focus has been the modernization of National Sample Surveys through the adoption of digital platforms such as Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) integrated with e-SIGMA platform incorporating in-built validation checks, AI-enabled chatbots, and multilingual interfaces etc. MoSPI has launched short duration surveys to cater the emerging need for high-frequency socio-economic indicators.
Significant reforms have also been undertaken in macroeconomic statistics, including base revision of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Index of Industrial Production (IIP). MoSPI has undertaken comprehensive data harmonization/ standardization initiatives which inter-alia includes adoption of National Metadata Structure (NMDS 2.0), introduction of the Statistical Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF), alignment with national and international classification standards.
Data dissemination and accessibility have been significantly enhanced through the revamped MoSPI website, GoIStats mobile application, e-Sankhyiki portal, Microdata Portal and the use of APIs for data exchange. MoSPI has also strengthened stakeholder engagement through data user conferences, consultations, workshops, and feedback mechanisms and promoting research and innovation through collaborations with academic institutions.
Further, MoSPI supports State/ UTs to enhance their capacity building through its Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS) Sub-Scheme which aims to improve/ strengthen the statistical capacity and operations of the state statistical system for collecting, compiling and disseminating reliable official statistics at sub-state level. Additionally, National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA) a premier Central Training Institute under MoSPI organizes different training programmes on regular basis on “Official Statistics and related fields” including digital tools, data analytics and data governance for the capacity building of the Statistical personnel of Central and State/UT Governments to ensure better data collection from the field.
This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation; Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Planning and Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.