The National Statistics Office, operating under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, will host a Data Users Conference on April 21, 2025, in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research at its campus in Mumbai. This conference underscores the Ministry’s ongoing initiatives to deepen engagement with data users and diverse stakeholders across policy, academia, and industry.
The National Statistics Office conducts comprehensive sample surveys to derive crucial macroeconomic indicators, including data on employment, unemployment, household consumption expenditure, and industrial statistics. The outcomes of these surveys form the backbone for data-driven policymaking and effective governance across the country. The upcoming conference aims to strengthen the exchange of ideas between data producers and users while enhancing transparency in the dissemination of economic indicators.
The gathering will be chaired by Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, alongside contributions from notable dignitaries including Dr. Neelkanth Mishra, Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister and Chairman of UIDAI; Prof. Basanta Kumar Pradhan, Director of IGIDR; Ms. Geeta Singh Rathore, Director General of the National Sample Survey; and N.K. Santoshi, Director General of Central Statistics.
The conference will convene an audience of 250 participants, representing researchers, academicians, economists, policymakers, industry representatives, and members from esteemed global organizations. It will also involve technical experts and members of the National Statistical Commission, fostering discussions on sampling methodologies, macroeconomic indicators, and survey innovations.
Technical presentations on National Sample Surveys will provide insights into the computation of multipliers and the design of household surveys while reflecting on lessons learned from the Household Consumption Expenditure Surveys for 2022–23 and 2023–24. Revisions and recent changes to the methodologies applied in the Periodic Labour Force Survey will also be explored. A session dedicated to GDP compilation will review data sources, sectoral databases, and updates to the GDP base year, emphasizing methodological improvements.
Further sessions will spotlight initiatives related to the Consumer Price Index base revision, covering updated statistical approaches and their implications. The conference will encourage open interaction, where participants can directly engage through question submissions, facilitated by the Mentimeter platform, to streamline discussions.
Experts from the Reserve Bank of India, the National Stock Exchange, private survey agencies, and leading academic institutions will chair panel discussions, providing critical evaluations and fostering robust dialogue. These interactive sessions aim to enhance the statistical ecosystem in India while reaffirming the National Statistics Office’s commitment to aligning macroeconomic indicators with the dynamic needs of users.
This conference represents a pivotal opportunity to explore the relevance of contemporary survey practices in policymaking and showcases India’s dedication to improving the statistical framework that underpins its governance and developmental initiatives.
