National Statistical Commission forms five panels to revamp surveys

New Delhi: The National Statistical Commission (NSC) has constituted five expert committees to look into ways to improve the survey process as India looks to revamp the government's statistical surveys to improve data quality, people familiar with the development said.

These committees will give their recommendations to the NSC on issues including incorporating technology in surveys, sampling methodology, data collection process and statistical methods, said one of the persons.

"There is a need to shorten the questionnaires. Long surveys are exhausting and often lead to inconsistent results," the person told ET on condition of anonymity, highlighting that one of the committees will also look at using new statistical methods to present data.

The committee will look at going beyond traditional statistical methods like averages in dealing with survey data to further improve accuracy.

Quality of statistics and data collection methods have been questioned in the past, with experts claiming a bias in sample selection. The government discarded 2017-18 Consumer Expenditure Survey citing data inconsistencies.

NSC chairman RL Karandikar told ET in an interview last month that the commission was addressing concerns to improve timeliness, quality and availability of government surveys.