07 JUN 2025, New Delhi
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), in collaboration with NITI Aayog and the World Bank as the knowledge partner, held a two-day national workshop on “Using Alternate Data Sources and Frontier Technologies for Policymaking” at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi on 5–6 June 2025.
The workshop concluded with a Valedictory Session attended by top government officials and experts, including Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India; Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology; Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI; and Shri P.R. Meshram, Director General, MoSPI.
Over 450 participants from ministries, state governments, academic institutions, international organisations, and the private sector attended the event, which focused on how real-time data and technologies like AI and geospatial tools can support more responsive and effective policymaking.
“Blend Traditional and Alternate Data for Better Policies”: Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood
In his keynote, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood stressed that alternate data—such as mobile phone data, satellite imagery, or scanner data—provides faster and more dynamic insights than traditional methods like surveys and censuses. However, he also emphasized that both types of data must work together for the best policy results.
He urged the need for collaboration among governments, academia, industry, and global organizations, and called for the ethical use of AI while ensuring data privacy and security. He also highlighted India’s leadership in building a techno-legal framework for digital public infrastructure.
AI, Mobile Data, and Scanner Tech Can Transform Statistics: Panel Highlights
Four technical sessions were held during the workshop, each exploring a different frontier technology:
1. AI and Data Science for Official Statistics
Experts from India AI, NASSCOM, IIT-Madras, and the UK and World Bank discussed how AI can move India’s statistical systems from pilot projects to full-scale implementation, offering faster and deeper analysis of national trends.
2. Mobile Phone Data for Tourism Statistics
This session focused on how mobile data can track tourism trends, city mobility, and infrastructure use—while protecting user privacy. Experts from ITU, Positium, and Airtel discussed global case studies and technical feasibility for India.
3. Geospatial Data for Sampling and Ocean Accounting
Experts from MapMyIndia, ESRI, NRSC, and INCOIS showcased how geo-data and AI can improve sampling methods, visualize trends, and even measure ocean-based economic activities. They stressed the growing importance of GIS in shaping data-driven urban planning and climate policies.
4. Scanner and E-Commerce Data for CPI Compilation
Speakers from Nielsen IQ, IIT Bombay, JNU, and V-Mart presented how scanner data and web scraping could modernize the Consumer Price Index (CPI), making it more real-time and representative of digital consumer behavior.
“Alternate Data is the Future of Real-Time Policy”: Dr. Saurabh Garg
Dr. Saurabh Garg emphasized the need to use alternate data alongside traditional surveys to make quicker, better-informed decisions. He cited the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, which promote a mix of surveys, censuses, admin records, and alternate data for high-quality outputs.
He shared that MoSPI is actively working on pilot projects, and some will be implemented in the next 3–6 months to test real-world applications of these ideas. He thanked the World Bank and NITI Aayog for supporting the initiative.
Institutional Framework Needed for Hybrid Data Use: Prof. Abhay Karandikar
Prof. Karandikar noted that the challenge today is not in collecting data, but in making sense of the massive data available. He called for a hybrid institutional setup that gives equal importance to both old and new data sources, while solving concerns around data privacy, security, and regulations.
Workshop Ends with Clear Roadmap for Future
In the closing session, Dr. Ashutosh Ojha, DDG, MoSPI, delivered the vote of thanks and appreciated the active participation of international agencies, private players, researchers, and government officers. He stated that the workshop provided a clear direction for integrating alternate data sources and frontier technologies into India’s policy ecosystem.
Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)
