DIPP not to disclose growth data of 268 items of IIP

NEW DELHI: Faced with the criticism over data goof-up, the Commerce and Industry Ministry has decided not to disclose growth figures of 268 items which are reflected in the Index of Industrial Production ( IIP).

"... it has been decided to discontinue the practice of uploading the Index of 268 DIPP items and Core Industries on the website of the Office of the Economic Adviser, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), with immediate effect," a ministry note said.

When contacted a DIPP official said the CSO gets data from 16 sources that includes from the department and nobody discloses the growth figures "so we also decided to stop the practice".

The decision came after series of controversies over goof-up in IIP and eight-core sector industries data. The government had to withdraw once the discrepancies were pointed out by experts.

The official, however, clarified that the ministry will continue to release the data on core sector industries - fertiliser, natural gas, coal, cement, electricity, crude oil, petroleum products and finished steel. This data account for about 38 per cent of the IIP.

The note said that the IIP released by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) on the 12th of every month already contains the indices and growth rates at an aggregated level for the DIPP related 268 items as well as those belonging to Core Sector.

Separately the Office of the Economic Adviser also releases the index of the core sector every month.

"Keeping these facts in view it has been decided to discontinue the practice...," it added.