Mumbai, April 21 -- The National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is set to host a landmark Data Users Conference on April 21, 2025, at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR) in Mumbai. Held in collaboration with IGIDR, the event will serve as a dynamic platform for engaging data users and stakeholders, showcasing critical updates on sampling methodologies and macroeconomic indicators.
The conference aims to foster dialogue between data producers and data users, enabling enhanced understanding and application of official statistics. It will bring together a distinguished audience of researchers, economists, policymakers, academics, private survey agencies, and representatives from international organisations, with an expected turnout of over 250 participants.
The sessions will offer a deep dive into:
Sampling methodologies in national surveys
Latest results from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES 2023-24)
Methodological updates in the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)
GDP compilation and base revision techniques
Key initiatives to update the Consumer Price Index (CPI) base
Dr. Saurabh Garg, IAS, Secretary, MoSPI, will chair the conference. Other eminent dignitaries include Dr. Neelkanth Mishra, Member, EAC to PM & Chairman, UIDAI; Prof. Basanta Kumar Pradhan, Director, IGIDR; Ms. Geeta Singh Rathore, Director General, NSS; and Shri N.K. Santoshi, Director General, Central Statistics.
Technical sessions will focus on the design and implementation of national sample surveys, including computation of multipliers and parameter estimation. Specific attention will be given to lessons from recent HCES rounds and updates in PLFS methodology, aimed at improving clarity and usability for stakeholders.
In the afternoon, sessions will shift to macroeconomic indicators with presentations on GDP measurement and base revision, and CPI base updation efforts. Each topic will be followed by panel discussions chaired by experts from RBI, NSE, and leading academic institutions like IGIDR and IIPS.
To encourage interactive participation, the conference will employ the Mentimeter platform for real-time Q&A, allowing participants to engage with speakers and panellists directly.
Reaffirming MoSPI's commitment to a robust and transparent statistical system, the conference is poised to enhance the quality, relevance, and utility of official statistics for policy formulation, governance, and academic research.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.