The data debate

Govt's indifference isn't helping matters

The quality of official data is once again being debated. The point of disagreement this time, broadly, is whether the different surveys capture the rapid pace of urbanisation in India. If a particular section of the population is overrepresented or underrepresented, it is possible that the survey results do not portray the status on the ground. There are concerns also about the quality of responses in household surveys. Surveys on household consumption expenditure, health, and employment are used not only to gauge the impact of past policy interventions but also inform policymaking for the future. The importance of periodic availability