MoSPI and ISB Jointly Organise Data User’s Conference to Strengthen Synergy Between Data Producers and Users

The National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India, and the Indian School of Business (ISB), hosted the Data User’s Conference on the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2023-24 and the Forward-Looking Survey on Private Sector Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Investment Intentions today at the Hyderabad campus of ISB.

The conference aimed to foster constructive dialogue between data producers and data users, facilitating knowledge exchange and showcasing India’s rigorous data collection as a foundation for transformative policy reforms. It highlighted recent data innovations and findings, predictive tools, and digital accessibility plans, underscoring the critical role of granular data in driving evidence-based policymaking, economic resilience, and inclusive growth.

In his address, Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Adviser, Government of India, provided an in-depth perspective on India’s economic progress. He explained that robust domestic demand combined with steady momentum across key sectors is charting a promising path forward despite global economic challenges. He added that granular MoSPI data reveals significant progress in the unincorporated non-agricultural sector, as seen in the growth of establishments, employment, and female entrepreneurship, alongside strong capital expenditure in manufacturing. Furthermore, such detailed insights are crucial for shaping targeted policy reforms in an era of global uncertainty.

Dr. Saurabh Garg, IAS, Secretary, MoSPI, highlighted enhancements in data dissemination through an upgraded portal featuring API access, interactive visualisations, and strategic collaborations with academic and global partners—steps that are enabling more effective and localised decision-making.

Professor Madan Pillutla, Dean, ISB, lauded India’s longstanding tradition of ambitious and transparent data collection, which has earned global recognition. He emphasised that in an era of advanced analytics, the integrity of data is critical for building robust predictive models and deriving actionable insights. He also remarked on ISB’s 25‑year legacy in rigorous research and its ongoing partnership with government agencies to drive informed decision-making.

The event witnessed participation from policymakers, academicians, researchers, economists, industry representatives, and international organisations.

The technical sessions featured expert discussions on the practical applications of survey findings, including the AUSE data ecosystem, sampling design, policymaking insights, and NSO’s new private CAPEX survey. Panellists highlighted the relevance of these datasets for research, policy development, and industry analysis.