India joins UN panel of experts on big data for official statistics

India has joined the United Nations Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics (UN-CEBD), a platform established to explore the opportunities and challenges of big data as well as its potential for monitoring and reporting on sustainable development goals.

The milestone coincides with India's recent membership in the United Nations Statistical Council, the ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI) said on Saturday.

"As part of the committee, India will contribute to shaping global standards and practices in harnessing big data and data science for official statistical purposes," it added. The participation will also enable India to align its advancements in big data and data science with international goals.


The ministry also noted that India's involvement in the committee will showcase its initiatives like the establishment of the Data Innovation Lab and the exploration of alternative data sources, including satellite imagery and machine learning, for policy development. The Data Innovation Lab focuses on fostering an ecosystem for innovation to strengthen the National Statistical System (NSS).

Additionally, by incorporating non-traditional data sources like internet of things (IoT), satellite imagery, and private sector data, India aims to modernise its statistical system, enhance the accuracy of estimates, and enable timely access to crucial data for policy formulation and governance, MoSPI mentioned.