National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)

 

National Sample Survey Office (NSSO)

The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) merged with the Central Statistical Office (CSO) to form the National Statistical Office (NSO). On 23rd May 2019, the Government of India has approved the merger of NSSO and CSO. 

Merger of NSSO with CSO to form NSO

The National Sample Survey Office used to work under the Ministry of Statistics of the Indian government until May 2019. On 23rd May 2019, the Indian government passed the order to merge the NSSO with the Central Statistics Office (CSO) to form the National Statistical Office (NSO). The Government stated that the NSO will be headed by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI).

National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) – Background

The NSSO was set up in 1950 to conduct large-scale sample surveys throughout India. The employees of the NSSO are from the Indian Statistical Service (appointed through the UPSC) and the Subordinate Statistical Service (appointed through the Staff Selection Commission).

The details of the NSSO are mentioned in the table below:

Divisions of the NSSO
Division	Responsibilities	Headquarters
Survey Design and Research Division	Technical planning of surveys, Formulation of Concepts and Definitions, Sampling Design, Designing of Inquiry Schedules, Drawing up of Tabulation Plan, Analysis and Presentation of Survey Results.	Kolkata
Field Operations Division	Collection of primary data for the surveys undertaken by NSSO	Delhi/ Faridabad
Data Processing Division	Sample Selection, Software Development, Processing, Validation And Tabulation of the data collected through surveys.	Kolkata
Co-ordination & Publication Division	Coordinates all the various departments and divisions in the NSSO Also publishes its annual journal.	Delhi

 

Background of Central Statistics Office (CSO)

Earlier known as the Central Statistics Organisation of India, CSO is responsible for the coordination of statistical activities in India, and evolving and maintaining statistical standards.

1. The CSO is headed by the Director-General who is assisted by Five additional Director-Generals and four Deputy Director-Generals, six Joint Directors, seven special task officers, thirty deputy directors, 48 assistant directors, and other supporting staff.
2. It has a well-equipped Graphical Unit. The CSO is located in Delhi.
3. Its activities include:

• National Account Statistics (NAS)

• Conduct of Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), Economic Censuses and its follow up surveys,

• Index of Industrial Production Compilation, as well as Consumer Price Indices for Urban Non-Manual Employees. (Read about Index of Industrial Production (IIP) from the linked article.)

• Human Development Statistics

• Gender Statistics

• Imparting training in Official Statistics

• Five Year Plan work relating to the Development of Statistics in the States and Union Territories

• Broadcasting statistical information, energy, construction, and environment statistics, work relating to trade revision of National Industrial Classification, etc.

National Statistical Office (NSO)

When the government passed the order for the merger of NSSO and CSO, it didn’t mention any role of the National Statistical Office (NSO). As of February 2021, the official website of NSO is inactive. Any updates related to NSO will be provided here. Candidates must use the following points to critically analyse the merger of NSSO and CSO:

• This merger will lead to depriving the Autonomy of NSSO as it will be a part of the MoSPI.
• This order from the government clearly puts the merged entity under MoSPI Secretary, raising questions about the independence of the process through which official survey data is collected and published.

From, Byjus

Pankaj Mandape