Accurate and standardised data collection is essential for evidence-based policymaking and technological growth in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister P K Mishra.
Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) Conclave, Mishra stressed the need for reliable data to support governance, policy planning and national development.“Data collection is very important because, for our policy, we need evidence-based analysis. And now in this new era of artificial intelligence also data is very important. So collection, compilation, analysis of data will form the basis of all our development journey,” Mishra said.
He called for better coordination between the Centre and state governments to ensure uniform data collection methods, definitions and classifications across the country.
At the MoSPI Conclave, Mishra highlighted that reliable data is vital for policy planning, governance, and AI-driven growth. He stressed that state and district statistical systems are essential for national databases and GDP estimates. Calling for stronger Centre-state alignment, he urged joint efforts to harmonise data collection using shared definitions and classifications.
Delivering the keynote address at the conclave, Mishra said statistics, data, technology, planning and governance are closely linked and play an important role in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
“Technology has become an enabler of data analysis, but it is not a substitute for statistical quality,” Mishra said.
“Speed cannot come at the cost of accuracy. Greater use of data cannot come at the cost of confidentiality, and technological sophistication cannot substitute for sound statistical methodology,” he added.
Mishra also described official statistics as an important tool for cooperative federalism, enabling the Centre and states to share best practices and assess economic performance using consistent methods.
Emphasising the need for efficient data sharing, he said information should be collected once and reused multiple times, subject to appropriate safeguards. This, he said, would help improve coordination while maintaining consistency and comparability across datasets.
“Our aspiration should therefore be to build a statistical system that does more than report the past. It should help the government understand the present and anticipate the emerging challenges. But above all we must preserve the trust placed in official statistics,” he said. - ANI
