A recent decision by the government has led to the dissolution of the Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS). The dissolution follows concerns raised by some committee members regarding delays in conducting the census.
Committee Overview
On July 13, 2023, the government established the 14-member SCoS, which was an expansion and renaming of the Standing Committee on Economic Statistics (SCES) formed in December 2019. The committee’s role was to oversee statistical surveys conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
Reason for Dissolution
According to a letter from the Ministry to the committee members, the work performed by the SCoS overlaps with that of the recently formed Steering Committee for National Sample Surveys. As a result, the decision was made to dissolve the SCoS.
Concerns Raised
- Delay in Census: Members of the SCoS had previously discussed delays in both the economic census and the decennial census, which maps the country’s population. India’s last census was conducted in 2011, and the next round was due in 2021 but has been delayed.
- Lack of Communication: Pronab Sen, Chairman of the SCoS, noted that no specific reason for the dissolution was provided by the Ministry, and members were informed only through email.
Committee Members
The SCoS included notable members such as:
- Sonalde Desai – Professor, National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)
- Biswanath Goldar – Former Professor, Institute of Economic Growth
- S K Sasi Kumar – Former Senior Fellow, VV Giri National Labour Institute
- S Chandrasekhar – Professor, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research
- Tauqeer Ahmad – Head of Division, Division of Sample Surveys, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute
- Sandip Mitra – Associate Professor, Indian Statistical Institute
- Mausumi Bose – Professor, Applied Statistics Unit, Indian Statistical Institute
- Officials from the Reserve Bank of India and MoSPI
New Committee Formation
The new committee is led by Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar, Chairman of the National Statistical Commission (NSC). At least four members from the SCoS have been included in this new committee.
Objectives of the New Committee
The new committee’s tasks include:
- Reviewing the framework and addressing issues related to surveys.
- Advising on survey methodology, sampling design, and results tabulation.
- Providing guidance for pilot surveys and exploring administrative statistics.
- Identifying data gaps and suggesting improvements.
Context of the Formation
The formation of the new committee comes amid criticism of India’s statistical system, particularly from three members of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM): Chairman Bibek Debroy and members Shamika Ravi and Sanjeev Sanyal.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
- Why was the Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS) dissolved?
- A) The committee’s work was deemed redundant with that of the Steering Committee for National Sample Surveys.
- B) The committee was found to be ineffective in its tasks.
- C) The committee members resigned en masse.
- D) There was a change in government policy regarding statistical oversight.
- Who is the Chairman of the new committee formed after the dissolution of the SCoS?
- A) Pronab Sen
- B) Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar
- C) Bibek Debroy
- D) Shamika Ravi
- Which significant census event was delayed and discussed by the SCoS?
- A) Economic census
- B) Decennial census
- C) Agricultural census
- D) Population census
- What was one of the key tasks of the SCoS?
- A) Conducting international surveys
- B) Advising on survey methodology and finalizing survey results
- C) Implementing new statistical software
- D) Overseeing financial audits of statistical departments
- When was the Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS) established?
- A) December 2019
- B) July 13, 2023
- C) January 2020
- D) March 2024