- 04 June | MGP Strategy Series | GS Paper 4 (Ethics) with AIR 7 A.R. Rajah Mohaideen Click Here to register for the session →
- 04 June | GS Advance Program begins from 4th June 2026 | First 2 classes open to all Click Here to register for the event →
- 05 June | MGP Strategy Series | GS Paper 3 Strategy Session with AIR 406 Mannat Luthra Click Here to register for the session
- 06 June | Open Orientation on Essay Guidance Program (EGP 2026) Click Here to register →
- 07 June | Open Orientation for Current Affairs for Mains 2026 Click Here to register →
- 07 June | Sociology Optional Strategy Session with AIR 10 Ujjwal Priyank Click Here to register →
Source– The post is based on the article “Missing numbers” published in “The Hindu” on 20th July 2023.
Syllabus: GS2- Government policies and interventions
Relevance: issues related to government statistical system
News- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has formed a new Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS). It will advise on official data, including the household surveys carried out by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
It has a broader mandate to help design surveys for all types of data, identify data gaps that must be plugged, and conduct pilot surveys for new data sets.
Why is there a need for timely conduct of Household Consumer Expenditure Survey?
The Household Consumer Expenditure Survey is crucial not only for monitoring changes in people’s living standards but also for recalibrating essential economic indicators like the Consumer Price Index and the Gross Domestic Product.
The latest survey was carried out during 2017-18. But, the government withheld the findings in November 2019, citing concerns about data quality.
What is the way forward to improve the statistical system?
The responsibility for releasing data should rest with the National Statistical Commission. Undermining one’s own systems might achieve temporary goals. But, it ultimately undermines the ability to demonstrate effective governance outcomes.
The Standing Committee on Statistics can play a proactive role in rebuilding trust between India’s respected statistical system and data users. This trust deficit has resulted in an absence of official data.
