The draft NPOS marks a paradigm shift in the ways data has been looked at in India so far
The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has placed the Draft Revised National Policy on Official Statistics (NPOS) in the public domain for comments. This draft is not just a policy document, but India's strategic blueprint for a future informed by data. This is, no doubt, a profound transformation, and marks a paradigm shift in the ways data has been looked at in India so far. It indicates a future where data, in all its forms—be it from statistical surveys, scheme data, or beneficiary registration details—is seamlessly integrated into the fabric of governance and decision-making. This ambitious vision aims to elevate India's statistical framework to global benchmarks, ensuring its transparency, efficiency, and responsiveness to the ever-evolving socio-economic landscape.
The NPOS champions a holistic approach to data, ensuring a multi-dimensional understanding of the nation's pulse, catering to researchers, policymakers, and the global community.
The NPOS is much more than mere plans around the compilation of numbers or sterile statistics; it visualises a rich ecosystem that captures the multifaceted narratives of a nation with a billion plus people. These narratives are woven from diverse sources, underlining the importance of not just traditional statistical surveys but also the vast reservoir of administrative and registration records. Such a comprehensive approach ensures that the data reflect the dynamism and diversity of India's fast-changing socio-economic landscape. From granular data collated by local municipal bodies to expansive datasets managed by central ministries, the NPOS champions a holistic approach to data, ensuring a multi-dimensional understanding of the nation's pulse, catering to researchers, policymakers, and the global community.
In a nation as vast and varied as India, coordinated efforts is not a luxury; it's a necessity. Recognising this, the NPOS envisions a cohesive, interconnected network that spans Central Ministries/Departments, States/Union Territories, anchored by the MoSPI. This isn't a mere administrative alignment; it's a strategic orchestration designed to ensure that data, whether sourced from a local survey in a remote village or a central statistical initiative in the bustling capital, is consistent, comprehensive, and contextually relevant. This alignment, coupled with a commitment to regularly publish and update datasets, ensures India's data narrative remains not just current but also anticipatory, primed to address emerging trends and challenges.
However, there is one problem here. There is no indication as to how any inter-agency divergence in data on the same variable will be reconciled. Though the draft is emphatic about putting in place a practice of coordination between MoSPI and the Central Ministries/Departments through Statistical Advisers on all statistical matters in terms of the Guidelines to be issued by it from time to time, there is evidence from the past where agencies’ data were not in conformity with each other. This issue might not seem to be a concern of policy, but it is definitely an operational concern. Policy can only suggest which agency will be responsible for this reconciliation. The divergence often arises because of different sample frames. However, what is important is the consistency of the sample thus chosen and ensuring that the sample frame is representative of the population frame.
The draft NPOS makes clear India's unwavering commitment to international standards and underscores its ambition to be a statistical powerhouse.
Today, as nations vie for a position on the global stage, data becomes the currency of credibility. The draft NPOS makes clear India's unwavering commitment to international standards and underscores its ambition to be a statistical powerhouse. Adherence to protocols set by global bodies like the United Nations under the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics-UNFPOS, adopted in 2016; and the International Monetary Fund under the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) sends a clear message: India is not just participating in the global data dialogue; it's poised to lead it. This commitment to global best practices ensures that India's data narrative, informed by diverse sources and coordinated across multiple tiers of governance, resonates with credibility on the international stage.
Again, however, the challenge of reconciliation will arise while conforming with Principle 10 of the UNFPOS. This principle states that: “…Bilateral and multilateral cooperation in statistics contributes to the improvement of systems of official statistics in all countries”. It is a fact that India associates and participates with all the major international organisations. However, often the data varies due to different time references (e.g., Annual Year for most international organisations, as opposed to Financial Year for India).
Embracing the future requires more than vision; it demands action. The NPOS's emphasis on leveraging cutting-edge technology is a testament to India's forward-looking approach. Recognising that the future of data is digital, the policy champions the transition of surveys to digital platforms, aligned with the broader "Digital India" initiative. But it goes beyond mere digitisation. By emphasising user-friendly online platforms for data dissemination and championing modern, digital-first methodologies, the NPOS is positioning India at the forefront of the global digital data revolution.
Yet, every ambitious vision faces challenges in its path to realisation. The NPOS, with its expansive scope and transformative vision, is no exception. The bureaucratic intricacies of India, coupled with the vastness of its governance structure from the grassroots to the national level, present significant challenges. Ensuring the seamless integration of data across this vast landscape, while maintaining the integrity and credibility of the data, is a Herculean task. However, the NPOS, with its comprehensive approach, global alignment, and future-forward vision, offers a bright way forward.
The bureaucratic intricacies of India, coupled with the vastness of its governance structure from the grassroots to the national level, present significant challenges.
The seamless intertwining of data with technology is at the heart of the NPOS's transformative vision. As technology continues its relentless march, reshaping every facet of our lives, the potential it offers for data collection, analysis, and dissemination is unparalleled. Digital platforms promise real-time data access, machine learning algorithms offer predictive insights, and cloud infrastructures ensure scalability and accessibility. However, this data-tech confluence is not without its challenges. Concerns about data privacy, cybersecurity threats, and the potential for technological exclusion of certain demographics loom large.
Moreover, as technology evolves at a breakneck speed, there's a palpable risk of our regulatory and policy frameworks lagging, leading to potential missteps. The way forward is a judicious blend of innovation and caution. While the NPOS rightly champions the adoption of cutting-edge tech solutions, it's imperative to concurrently develop robust frameworks that safeguard data integrity, ensure inclusivity, and prioritise citizen privacy. In essence, the data-tech journey should be one that's guided not just by the possibilities of the future but also by the lessons of the past.
The NPOS has, however, been silent on classifying data. This has been one of the complaints of many analysts—that, often, data is declared classified and is not made accessible in the public domain. As an example, recent hydrological data on some of the transboundary rivers are classified. On a more objective note, this hinders objective analysis and often leads to incorrect inferences in policy formulation. However, it is a fact that security concerns override other concerns, but there needs to be a more informed policy on such issues. Not acknowledging the concern of classified data is definitely one of the lacunae in this draft. This is in contravention of the fundamental principle on which the draft stands, i.e., treating data as a public good with non-excludability and non-rivalry in its use being critical pillars.
Concerns about data privacy, cybersecurity threats, and the potential for technological exclusion of certain demographics loom large.
India's recent election to the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) for the term 2024-2027 is not just a recognition but a testament to the nation's commitment to statistical excellence, as highlighted in the Draft Revised National Policy on Official Statistics (NPOS). This esteemed position amplifies the responsibility of India's official statisticians to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, transparency, and integrity. The NPOS, with its emphasis on global alignment, adherence to the UNFPOS, and synchronisation with standards set by international bodies, serves as a guiding beacon for India's journey in the global statistical arena.
Being part of the UNSC not only offers India an opportunity to collaborate with the statistical systems of other countries but to also contribute its rich experience, innovation, and insights, ensuring that the global statistical discourse benefits from India's unique socio-economic landscape and its data-driven narratives. Furthermore, international collaborations could pave the way for India to adopt best practices from around the world, refining its statistical system and ensuring it remains at the forefront of global statistical innovation. As India embarks on this prestigious journey, it stands poised to play a significant role in shaping the global statistical field, underpinned by the robust foundations laid out by the NPOS.
The NPOS, with its emphasis on global alignment, adherence to the UNFPOS, and synchronisation with standards set by international bodies, serves as a guiding beacon for India's journey in the global statistical arena.
The Draft Revised NPOS is not just a policy document; it's a proclamation of India's aspirations in the data-centric global landscape. It embodies the collective ambition of a nation poised on the cusp of a statistical renaissance. As India strides forward, armed with the NPOS, the world watches with bated breath, anticipating the dawn of a new era where data doesn't just inform decisions but shapes destinies.
Oommen C. Kurian is Senior Fellow and Head of the Health Initiative at the Observer Research Foundation.
Nilanjan Ghosh is Director of the Centre for New Economic Diplomacy at the Observer Research Foundation.
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Oommen C. Kurian is Senior Fellow and Head of Health Initiative at ORF. He studies Indias health sector reforms within the broad context of the ...
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Dr. Nilanjan Ghosh is a Director at the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), India. In that capacity, he heads two centres at the Foundation, namely, the ...
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