Statistical panel to become NSSO advisory body

IN ORDER TO address delays and inadequacies in socioeconomic surveys conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), the government is planning to appoint the National Statistical Commission (NSC) as an advisory body to the survey office.

- PRIYANSH VERMA

Its role would be to provide technical assistance to the NSSO and oversee its survey exercise, an official aware of the matter told FE.

The NSC is expected to play the role of the erstwhile 'governing council' of the NSSO. The governing council, which was dissolved in 2006, had members who were experts and not part of the government. Their suggestions were useful in fixing gaps in survey exercises.

The NSC, after the appointment, is expected to oversee the methodology of socioeconomic surveys and recommend changes wherever necessary.

"The government is likely to make the appointment in coming weeks. Earlier, the government had thought of doing so after polls, but it may not wait that long... this issue has been pending for several years," the official said.