Importance of Robust Data Collection in India
Context:
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has begun celebrations to mark 75 years of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), India’s leading agency for nationwide statistical surveys.
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- Established in 1950, the NSSO has earned a strong global reputation, serving as a model for both developing and developed countries.
- Over the decades, the NSSO has faced its share of controversies, particularly in the past 30 years.
Delayed Census and Its Consequences
- RGI: While the NSSO continues its work, India’s other key statistical agency, the Registrar General of India (RGI), faces growing concerns.
- Data Vacuum: The RGI is responsible for conducting the decennial population census, a crucial data-gathering exercise that has been indefinitely postponed since 2021—an unprecedented delay outside of wartime.
- Essential for Decentralised Governance: The census is the only comprehensive dataset providing social and economic details at the village, ward, and district levels, making it essential for decentralised governance.
- Basis for other Surveys: Additionally, census data serves as the basis for sampling in all major surveys, including those conducted by the NSSO.
- SRS: The RGI also manages the Sample Registration System (SRS), which collects crucial demographic statistics such as fertility and mortality rates.
- However, the SRS has not been published since 2020, further weakening India’s statistical foundation.
History of the Census in India
Ancient Period: The concept of population counting dates back to ancient times, with references in the Rig Veda and Chanakya’s Arthashastra highlighting its importance for taxation purposes.
Mughal Era: During Akbar’s reign, some form of population count was conducted.
Initial Censuses (1820s-1860s): The first modern censuses were conducted in specific cities like Allahabad (1824) and Benares (1827-28). In 1830, Henry Walter conducted a census in Dacca (now Dhaka).
First Nationwide Census Attempt (1872): Initiated by Lord Mayo, this was not fully synchronous but marked the beginning of national efforts. It covered most parts of India but not all territories.
Synchronous Census (1881): Conducted under W.C. Plowden, this was the first comprehensive synchronous census across British India.
1948 Census Act: Established after independence to provide a legal framework for future censuses.
First Post-independence Census (1951): Conducted from February 9 to 28 under the new act. It recorded a population of over 36 crore people. Since then, censuses have been conducted every ten years without interruption.
State-Led Initiatives to Fill the Gap
- In response to this data shortfall, state governments have stepped in to conduct their own surveys.
- Recently, the Telangana government presented basic findings from its caste census in the state assembly, following Bihar’s partial release of its 2023 caste census results.
- While Karnataka conducted a similar survey in 2015, it has yet to publish the findings.
- The nationwide caste census conducted in 2011 as part of the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) has also remained largely unpublished.
Importance of State-led Surveys
- These state-led initiatives are significant for two key reasons.
- First: In the absence of updated national data, state-level surveys help bridge information gaps.
- Second: They support governance at the state level, where key policy areas like land, agriculture, education, health, and social welfare primarily fall under state jurisdiction.
- Access to granular, up-to-date data can enable states to design more effective policies tailored to local needs.
- Strengthening Regional Statistics: Furthermore, state-led surveys contribute to strengthening regional statistical systems.
- While states have their own Directorates of Economics and Statistics (DES), data collection in India has traditionally been centralised.
- Previously, states would conduct NSSO surveys with a matching sample to generate state-specific insights.
- However, this practice has declined, leaving states without crucial data that reflect their unique social and economic structures.
Need for a Strong National Statistical Framework
- Flows in State-led Surveys: Variations in timing, methodology, and coverage between states make it difficult to compile uniform national data.
- However, if states like Telangana and Bihar effectively use their survey data to enhance governance and public service delivery, they could set a precedent for other states to follow.
- Need for National System: More importantly, their efforts highlight the need for a robust, transparent national statistical system.
- With delays and withdrawals of key surveys becoming more frequent, concerns are growing over the central government’s approach to data collection and dissemination.
- A well-functioning statistical system is essential for informed policymaking, and ensuring timely access to accurate data must remain a priority for both the central and state governments.
As India celebrates 75 years of the NSSO, it is crucial to reaffirm the commitment to reliable and transparent data collection. Strengthening both national and state-level statistical capacity will be essential for effective governance, economic planning, and social welfare in the years to come.
