GDP base revision could be done more frequently in near future

The Indian Statistical System will play a key role in "data-driven" decision making by the government in the journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047, says Rao Inderjit Singh, Union minister of state (independent charge), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (Mospi), in an email interview with Shiva Rajora. Edited excerpts.

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Your ministry is focusing on technology to collect, process, and disseminate data and also on using alternative data sources. How are these changes driving the transformation in the ministry? How would this benefit data users?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said: "We must become tech-savvy so that every policy and scheme can be made more efficient and accessible through technology. We must become experts in data-driven decision-making, so that policy design and implementation become more accurate." The ministry is adapting technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), in its generation of statistical products and taking the lead role to provide the required data to policymakers in time so that accurate policies could improve the quality of life of the people.

The ministry has shifted from data collection through pen and paper to tablets through computer-assisted personal interviews in National Sample Surveys (NSSs). In-house software is developed for data validation, multiplier calculation, table generation, etc. AI-enabled chatbots have been included in surveys like the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises. With computer-assisted personal interviews, the time period for disseminating the results and the data of the surveys after the conduct of the survey could be reduced to a great extent. For example, the recent modular telecom survey was conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) from January to March 2025 and the results of that have been released in May 2025.

What is the ministry's vision in line with the government's 2047 Viksit Bharat agenda? Where do you see the ministry in 2047?