Understanding development data in the Indian Context

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This note is targeted at queries which arise while we conduct our courses with MPs on topics related to Economics, Budget and Governance.

 

 

   1. Which are the key sources of government data and their release cycles?

   2. Which ministry or organisation is responsible for collecting and collating the data?

   3. What is the credit worthiness of each source?

   4. What are the key data that are not included in these data bases? For example, ranking/ grading of delivery of institutional services.

 

 

 

Requested By- A first timer MP from Tamil Nadu

 

 

Due date: March 8, 2008

 

 

Length- 2to 3 pages

Response

 

Key sources of Government Data

 

 

The government of India on a regular basis collects numerical data to clearly understand the socio-economic variables effecting the nation.

 

   India, in accordance with its federal structure, has created a statistical system, which is both decentralized and centralized. Large-scale statistical operations such as Population Census, Economic Census and nation-wide sample surveys are centralized. In addition, the compilation of macro-economic aggregates like national accounts, price indices and industrial production are largely Central activities. However, the State Governments and statistical organizations of the State are also engaged in collecting and generating data on a number of variables.  Even where the responsibility for policy formulation lies with the Central Ministries, the actual collection of data may be done by the State Governments through their agencies.  For example, in the case of Agricultural Statistics, the crop area and yield data are collected by State Governments through various schemes initiated by the Central Ministry of Agriculture. There is, therefore a need for a high degree of coordination between the Central statistical authorities and the State-level organizations.(Dr.C.Rangarajan Committee,2000)

Nodal Agency for Collecting and Collating Data

 

The Statistics Wing of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation in the Government of India is the nodal agency for coordination of statistical activities and maintenance of statistical standards. For coordination with States and Union Territories, it operates through State Directorates of Economics and Statistics. (Dr.C.Rangarajan Committee, 2000). http:://www.mospi.nic.in

 

 

 

Key Sources of Government Data

 

Central Statistical Organisation is responsible for coordination of statistical activities in the country, and evolving and maintaining statistical standards. Its activities include National Income Accounting; conduct of Annual Survey of Industries, Economic Censuses and its follow up surveys, compilation of Index of Industrial Production, as well as Consumer Price Indices for Urban Non-Manual Employees, Human Development Statistics, Gender Statistics, imparting training in Official Statistics, Five Year Plan work relating to Development of Statistics in the States and Union Territories; dissemination of statistical information, work relating to trade, energy, construction, and environment statistics, revision of National Industrial Classification, etc. It has a well-equipped Graphical Unit. The CSO is headed by the Director-General who is assisted by 2 Additional Director-Generals and 4 Deputy Director-Generals, Directors & Joint Directors and other supporting staff. The CSO is located in Delhi. Some portion of Industrial Statistics work pertaining to Annual Survey of industries is carried out in Kolkata.

 

 

 

However it is important to note here that the Census is not under this ministry but is collected and collated by the Office of the Registrar General and Office Commissioner under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

 

 KEY SOURCES OF DATA 

 

 

 The ministry employs statisticians who analyse the data collected by the ground staff.Government employees from many different departments are drafted in to help in collecting of data such as government school teachers etc.The data collectors go to individuals,families,farmers ,industrial workersetc depending on the issue of the survey.This is called as primary data collection in which the interviwer or data collector goes to the interviewee or subject to find out their views on a particular subject with the help of a detailed Questionnaire.Most ministries also on their own collect and collate data for monitering and evaluation of programmes and schemes run by that particular ministryfor egs.The Department of family and child welfare periodically  conducts surveys to moniter and evaluate Integrated Child Development Scheme or ICDS.

 

National Sample SurveyOrganization

The National Sample Survey Organization was established in 1950 ,is a nation-wide,large -scale,continuous survey.The purpose of the survey is to fill up data-gaps for socio-economic planning and policy through sample surveys.The survey is conducted in the form of successive rounds.This survey conducts itself in three types:

1.Socio-Economic Surveys

2.Annual Survey of Industries

3.Agricultural Surveys

The NSS is a yearly survey but there are  some surveys whose results can be brought out half yearly as well.

 

 

Apart from allthese surveys under the NSSO,the government under the Miinistry of Family and Child Welfare runs a nationwide survey called the NATIONAL FAMILY HEALTH SURVEY(NFHS).The survey was first conducted in 1992-93 ,then in 1998-99 and then in 2005-06.The scope of the NFHS includes household survey of indicators such as population,health and nutrition by background cahracteristics at the national and state levels.In NFHS-3 data was collected by interviwing women aged 15-49 and men age 15 -45.NFHS-3 also looked at height and weight as well as blood samples for HIV+ and Anemia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Policy Watch

 

• The Collection of Statistics Bill 2007 is pending in the Parliament.
• Report of National Statistics Commission- chaired by Dr. C Rangarajan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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