Centre disbands Standing Committee on Statistics amid concerns over postponed Census

The Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has disbanded the Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS), a move that has sparked allegations from committee members about its timing and motivations.

According to reports, the committee’s dissolution followed members raising concerns over the prolonged delay in conducting the Census, which was initially scheduled for 2021 but has yet to commence.

The ministry, however, attributed the decision to overlap between the SCoS and another body, the Steering Committee for National Sample Surveys, which was formed in June 2023. According to an official statement, the ministry justified dismantling the SCoS due to the duplication of responsibilities, with both committees tasked with overseeing and advising on similar issues related to national surveys.

The Steering Committee, it was explained, was created to address issues related to survey methodology and results, and roles that had previously been within the purview of the SCoS.

Established in 2019, the SCoS was initially set up to evaluate key economic indicators and later had its role expanded in 2023 to advise on all national surveys. Headed by economist and former Chief Statistician of India, Pronab Sen, the 14-member committee was meant to guide the ministry on data collection methodologies.

Sen, along with other members, expressed confusion over the disbandment, highlighting the significance of the committee’s recent work, particularly in relation to the Census.

The decennial Census, last conducted in 2011, is critical for government policy formulation, determining the allocation of resources, and disbursing welfare schemes. It was initially slated to begin in 2020 with the housing data collection phase but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Three years later, the exercise remains unannounced, prompting concerns about the impact on government programmes and policy planning.

Experts have warned that the continued delay of the Census is affecting the distribution of benefits under key government schemes, including food security initiatives. Census data is also essential for accurate estimates in surveys related to consumption, health, and employment, which depend on it to create reliable projections. The absence of up-to-date Census data, some argue, has resulted in flawed estimations that could adversely affect welfare measures.

The disbandment of the SCoS has raised eyebrows, particularly since discussions around the delayed Census were reportedly central to its recent meetings. Observers have suggested that the committee’s questioning of the government’s failure to conduct the Census may have led to its premature dissolution.

Some opposition leaders have criticised the government for postponing the Census, which they claim has left millions without essential benefits tied to population data. They argue that the delay, combined with plans to update the National Population Register (NPR) during the Census, has made the exercise politically charged. The NPR is seen as the first step towards a National Register of Citizens, which aims to identify undocumented migrants and has been a subject of significant controversy.