In a major restructuring move, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has decided to merge the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) into the National Statistical Office (NSO).

In an order issued on May 23, the ministry said the restructuring was done “in order to streamline and strengthen the present nodal function of MoSPI with respect to Indian official statistics system and bring in more synergy by integrating its administrative functions within the ministry”.

According to the order, the statistical wing, comprising the NSO with the CSO and the NSSO as constituents, will become an integral part of the main ministry.

It stated that the NSO would be headed by the Statistics and Programme Implementation secretary, with various divisions reporting to the secretary through director generals (DGs).

The CSO headed by a DG brings out macroeconomic data like GDP growth data, industrial production and inflation.

The NSSO conducts large-scale surveys and brings out reports on health, education, household expenditure and other social and economic indicators. The NSSO and the CSO were functioning independently.

The order stated that with the reorganisation of the CSO and the NSSO within the NSO as part of the main ministry, the administrative functions will be streamlined with the involvement of DG-level officers in administrative and overall coordination.

The Data Processing Division (DPD) of the NSSO would be renamed Data Quality Assurance Division (DQAD) and have the responsibility to bring out quality improvements in survey data, as well as in data of non-survey sources like economic census and administrative statistics (provided by various departments or bodies).

The Field Operation Division (FOD) of the NSSO will be a subordinate office of the MoSPI, and all other divisions of the CSO, NSSO and the administrative wing will exist as divisions of the ministry.

However, the order did not say anything about the National Statistical Commission (NSC), which was overseeing statistical works.

The government had set up the NSC through a resolution on June 1, 2005. The setting up of the NSC followed the decision of the Union Cabinet to accept the recommendations of the Rangarajan Commission, which reviewed the Indian Statistical System in 2001.

The NSC was constituted on July 12, 2006 with a mandate to evolve policies, priorities and standards in statistical matters. The NSC has four members besides a chairperson, each having specialisation and experience in specified statistical fields.

In January, two non-governmental members of the NSC - P.C. Mohanan and J.V. Meenakshi - had put in their papers because they were reportedly disappointed over the way the government had sidelined them.

Mohanan was the acting NSC chairman, while Meenakshi was a member of the commission.