Arvind Panagariya, the chairman of the 16th Finance Commission (FC), emphasized during a Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (Mospi) event on National Statistics Day the need to establish a permanent data portal tailored for the finance commission.
He pointed out that such a platform would streamline future operations by ensuring continual access to necessary data, as currently, each commission must independently gather its required data from scratch.
The 16th FC was set up in December of the previous year, with its members being appointed at the start of this year.
At the same event, RL Karandikar, the Chairman of the National Statistical Commission, suggested the government should foster collaboration among various stakeholders, including NITI Aayog, Mospi, and data users. He proposed the formation of an expert group dedicated to enhancing data collection and improving cross-ministerial coordination.
Similarly, Mospi Secretary Saurabh Garg talked about the government’s efforts towards systemic improvements for the swift publication of data and enhanced IT tool utilization. He noted the increasing variety and number of surveys, such as the AYUSH survey, which assesses the effects of traditional medicinal practices in India, and the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Enterprises.
Garg also mentioned the ministry’s focus on data awareness and the application of data analytics for more informed decision-making. On the day of the statistics event, the ministry introduced the e-sankhyiki portal, a comprehensive data repository.
It released the Sustainable Development Goals National Indicator Framework report, highlighting the ministry’s strides toward better data management and utility.