7th Economic Census: Panel Asks MoSPI to Release Interim Data
Why in the news
A parliamentary panel pressed the statistics ministry to rescue whatever usable data exists from the unfinished 7th Economic Census.
Key facts
- Body: Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance; ministry: MoSPI.
- The gap between the 6th Census (2013) and the proposed 8th exceeds 12 years, a large data void.
- 7th Census fieldwork started in 2019 and, hit by Covid-19, took two years.
- West Bengal did not take part despite the Union government’s request.
- By December 2023, 12 states/UTs had not cleared the provisional results, blocking finalisation.
- The panel said the purpose of the exercise was defeated despite the big spend.
Spending
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Outlay for 7th Economic Census | ₹913 crore |
| Utilised so far | ₹691.04 crore |
Ministry’s response and 8th Census plan
- It admitted the third-party fieldwork model underperformed, with states and UTs playing a minimal role.
- In the 8th Census, states/UTs will fully own enumerator engagement and supervisor deployment.
- Fieldwork time will grow from 3 months to 9 months.
About the Economic Census
- Gives data on geographic clusters of economic activity, ownership patterns and employment in establishments.
- Used for state and district socio-economic planning.
- 6th Census (results out in 2016): 60 million establishments employing 131 million people.
Exam angle
- Nodal ministry: MoSPI.
- 6th Census year: 2013; 7th began 2019.