News:Government of India will shortly unveil a National Policy on Official Statistics.
Facts:
Background:
- The policy is being prepared as government is looking to address data quality issues with regard to various surveys.
- Further,the credibility of India’s official data has also come under strain following leak of the draft Household Consumer Expenditure report, which showed a decline in spending in rural India in 2018.
About the National Policy on Official Statistics:
- The policy aims at providing timely, credible economic and social data to the people.
- The policy seeks to create synergy between the Centre and the states in statistical matters besides promoting an ecosystem for informed debate on various social and economic issues affecting people’s lives.
- The policy also has a proposal to set up a National Statistical Development Council, an independent authority headed by the Prime Minister that would supersede the National Statistical Commission (NSC).
- The policy also proposes to make the chief statistician a permanent member of the NSC through the redrafted policy for improved coordination between the NSC and the government.
Additional information:
About NSC:
- The National Statistical Commission (NSC) of India is an autonomous body which was formed in July 2005.
- The objective of its commission is to reduce the problems faced by statistical agencies in the country in relation to collection of data.
