By News On Air Apr 22, 2025
The National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (Mospi), organised the Data Users Conference yesterday in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), Mumbai. The conference aimed to foster constructive dialogue between data producers and data users, facilitating knowledge exchange on methodologies, insights from the latest Household Consumption Expenditure Survey, Methodology changes in Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) and key initiatives in macro-economic statistics, including GDP and Consumer Price Indices.
He highlighted Mospi’s efforts toward enhancing data credibility, timeliness, accessibility, and relevance through technological interventions for the timely release of key indicators like PLFS monthly estimates, quarterly unincorporated sector surveys, and a focus on comprehensive metadata standardisation. He underlined the Ministry’s commitment to integrate administrative and survey data to fill existing gaps in the statistical ecosystem. Dr. Garg mentioned that Mospi is actively working with research institutes to promote collaborative research.
In his address, Dr. Nilkanth Mishra, Member, EAC-PM and Chairman, UIDAI, underscored the pressing need for more granular and timely data, especially in light of India’s fast-evolving digital and informal economy. Drawing from personal experiences, he highlighted the critical gaps in economic data and appreciated Mospi’s ongoing efforts to modernise the data access for both private and public stakeholders.
The event witnessed active participation from more than 250 attendees, comprising policymakers, academicians, researchers, economists, industry representatives, and international organisations.
The conference was chaired by Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MOSPI, who emphasised the Ministry’s core vision of ‘Data for Development’.