NSC set up via government resolution, not statutory body as recommended

The Standing Committee on Finance examined the performance of the National Statistical Commission (NSC) to assess its effectiveness in coordinating official statistics and advising the government. This matters to citizens because reliable and standardized statistical data is essential for informed policy-making and public trust in economic indicators.

The report concerns the National Statistical Commission (NSC) and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (implied by the context of NSC's role and the Committee's recommendation for the 'Ministry' to act). It affects the general public, private data providers, academia, and state governments who rely on official statistical data.

• The Committee recommended establishing the NSC as a nodal and autonomous body with full statutory backing, noting it was originally set up via a government resolution rather than as a statutory body.
• The Committee recommended constituting a permanent technical committee to align definitions and methodologies, including representation from private agencies, academia, and industry, to address discrepancies between government and private data estimates.
• The Committee recommended developing a national standards framework for data collection, sampling, and reporting, with the NSC prescribing standards for both government and private sector data producers.
• The Committee noted that only one notable statistical audit (Index of Industrial Production in 2011) had been conducted and recommended establishing a statistical audit function with standardized guidelines and public reporting of findings.
• The Committee recommended refining GDP data to better capture informal or unorganised sector economic activity.
• The Committee identified data overlap and discrepancies between ministries due to different sampling and processing methods, recommending the synchronisation of all statistical activities and publications.
• The Committee recommended an extensive strategy for integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), supported by capacity building, clear operational guidelines, ethical standards, and oversight mechanisms.
• The Committee recommended the Ministry follow a complete plan to operationalise international collaborations through formal MOUs and institutional partnerships, prioritizing joint research and global data standards.

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