Big data, AI and ML focus of draft revised national policy on statistics

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

ministry of statistics and programme implementation on Wednesday unveiled the revised draft national policy on official statistics, focused on creating an overarching framework for the creation and release of statistics in the country using big data analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning. “This policy will provide an overarching framework for providing reliable, timely and credible social and economic statistics to assist decision-making within and outside the Government,” the ministry stated.

The revised NPOS is introduced five years after the government released its draft policy based on suggestions from the National Statistical Commission and United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics. “The Indian Official Statistical system is required to reorient their strategies with the emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) dovetailed with commensurate instruments of data collection, compilation processing, storage, integration, analysis and dissemination,” according to the revised policy.

Besides its focus on technology, the new policy envisages the creation of an integrated data system, optimisation of administrative statistics, innovation in surveys to reduce the burden on respondents and continuous augmentation quality of official statistics. The ministry has been facing flak from different quarters with regard to the quality of statistics and surveys.

It also held a 'chintan shivir' last month to discuss issues related to the quality and timeliness of statistics and surveys. The revised framework talks about the creation of core statistics, the collection of which will be made mandatory for all levels of government and shall be released