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Informist, Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025

--MoSPI secy Garg:Use of e-commerce data in compiling CPI a work in progress

--CONTEXT: MoSPI secy Saurabh Garg speaking at an event

NEW DELHI – The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation is working to integrate its surveys for data collection with chatbots enabled by artificial intelligence, Secretary Saurabh Garg said Thursday. Speaking at the 17th Foundation Day of the National Statistical Systems Training Academy, Garg said changes in the technological environment provided both challenges and opportunities, with innovations in data collection allowing for greater cost effectiveness and monitoring.

According to Garg, one of the priorities of the ministry going forward will be to further automated processes, "how to incorporate chatbots--some work has started already in having AI-enabled chatbots into our CAPI".

CAPI, or computer-assisted personal interview, is a face-to-face data collection method for surveys where the interviewer uses computer devices to record answers. As part of its modernisation efforts, the statistics ministry has been conducting all its surveys through tablets that are loaded with in-built so-called computer scrutiny points to validate data at the dierent stages it is captured. This cloud-based digital platform allows for simultaneous processing of data, helping to drastically reduce the lag with which survey results are released by several months.

Garg also said the ministry was looking to incorporate alternative sources of data in official statistics. The use of e-commerce data in the compilation of the CPI is a "work in progress". He added that the ministry had received research proposals from institutions such as Indian Institutes of Technology-Kanpur and Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi that could throw up more ideas on integrating alternative sources of data and administrative data with the ministry's work.

Last month, the statistics ministry signed memorandums of understanding with the two aforementioned institutes. The MoU with IIT Kanpur is for the development of a software to implement seasonal adjustments for key indices such as the CPI.  End

Reported by Siddharth Upasani

Edited by Tanima Banerjee

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