New Delhi, March 9 -- The statistics ministry recently released a bunch of fresh data-sets related to India's gross domestic product (GDP) across three years, including a guesstimate of expected economic growth for the current year ending on 31 March.

These data-sets managed to generate the usual commentary, controversy and divided opinions about the state of India's economic well-being, despite a newly elected president halfway across the world stealing some of the thunder.

It might be time, though, to start talking about whether it is proper to lavish so much undivided attention on these data estimates, look at whether the numbers capture the reality of lived experiences, examine alterations or enhancements, and examine the progress o...