Autonomy of National Statistical Offices Presentation by: V.K. Bajaj Dy. Director General Ministry of Statistics & PI Government of India

2 Indian Statistical System {contd…….} India has a decentralized statistical system with:  Apex Agencies at the Centre, namely Central Statistical Organization(CSO) and National Sample Survey Organization(NSSO);  Apex Agency in the States, namely Directorate of Economic and Statistics (DES); and  Statistical Divisions/Units in Line Ministries and Departments

3 Indian Statistical System {contd…….} The CSO is responsible  for coordination with the Line Ministries at the Centre and State Directorates of Economic and Statistics;  For laying down and maintaining standards in the field of statistics besides compilation of some key statistics; and  The NSSO is responsible for conducting large scale sample surveys on various socio- economic parameters on an All-India basis.

4 Indian Statistical System {contd…….} The State Directorates of Economic and Statistics (DESs) are responsible for:  Coordination with the Line Ministries or Departments in the States as also with the Central Statistical Organization; and  Compilation of some key Statistics at the State level.

5 Indian Statistical System {contd…….} Line Ministries are responsible for:  Collection, compilation and analysis of data concerning their subject and its dissemination; and  Associating CSO in all the major statistical activities taken up by them, being the apex coordinating agency at the centre, to ensure uniformity of standards, concepts and credibility besides avoiding duplication.

6 Need for Autonomy India feels that autonomy to NSOs is important for the following reasons:  For facilitating good decision making by Government and others – Good Governance Arrangement;  For retaining trust in official statistics;  For honoring citizen’s entitlement to public information in a democratic set up (Information Role).

7 Type of Autonomy Autonomy of Statistical Organizations can be of two types:  Organizational Autonomy  Professional Autonomy  Administrative Autonomy  Financial Autonomy  Professional Autonomy  Adhering to professional standards, like  Independence to choose the methodology  Independence to decide about publication  Independence to decide the release date  Independence to approve the results / analysis

8 Autonomy of NSO – Indian Experience {contd….}  India has adopted a mixed approach  While remaining in the Government, it has maintained professional independence

9 Autonomy of NSO -- Indian Experience {contd……}  For all major statistical activities, a system of Advisory Boards, Advisory Councils, and Expert Committee etc is followed;  Most of these Groups or Boards are headed by men of eminence outside the Government;  A large number of Members of these committees are also renowned academicians;  These Committees are given full independence in decision making 

10 Autonomy of NSO -- Indian Experience {contd……} For conduct of large scale sample surveys in various socio-economic fields and deal with issues like sample design, concepts, schedules, tabulation plan etc.:  A High Power Steering Committee with a non- official as chairman has been set up;  The Committee has been given full autonomy on all matters;  The Committee has members also from academic fields, research institutions, etc.

11 Autonomy of NSO -- Indian Experience {contd……} For compilation of National Accounts and related issues like review of data bases, methodology, dev. of regional accounts, etc.  An Advisory Committee has been set up with an eminent economist as its chairman;  The Committee has members from research institutions, central bank, non-governmental experts, etc.  The Committee has been given full autonomy to decide all issues concerning national accounts.

12 Autonomy of NSO -- Indian Experience {contd……} In the field of Price Statistics,  A Technical Advisory Committee on Statistics of Prices and Cost of Living has been functioning;  It also has members from academic fields as also from chambers of commerce & industry;  For revision of the WPI series, there is a practice of setting up Working Group under some renowned non-official expert to decide the whole gamut of activities associated with revision of a price index series.

13 Autonomy of NSO -- Indian Experience {contd……} It is felt that in the Indian Context, the Committee System with eminent experts from outside Government, provides professional autonomy to the system. Further,  The external and outside participation in the governance has served as a mitigating force against criticism of Government on concepts & methodological inadequacies;  The system has provided credibility to the statistics collected / generated.

14 Autonomy of NSO -- Indian Experience {contd……} In order to further strengthen the autonomy of NSO, the Government has recently set up an autonomous:  National Commission on Statistics(NSC), independent of Government and responsible to Parliament;  The NSC has a Chairman, who is a prominent Economist / Social Scientist and four Members;  The NSC has to serve as a Nodal & Empowered Body for core statistical activities of the country; evolve, monitor and enforce statistical priorities and standards, besides assuring strong coordination.

15 Autonomy of NSO -- Indian Experience {contd……}  The issue at the moment is to provide statutory status to the NSC; and  See that there is involvement of NSO in all the major statistical activities undertaken by the Line Ministries, to provide credibility to the statistics produced by them.

16 Thank You