Prime minister Manmohan Singh has directed ministries and departments to adhere to the most comprehensive official estimates for quoting figures, avoiding confusion created by multiple estimated.

The gujjar agitation in Haryana, ongoing textiles census, counting for reservation for backward castes have all made as strong case for uniform figures. Different considerations in data collection yield figures that widely vary from National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO, even if it has been worked out for the same count.

When this glaring mistake was pointed out by the cabinet secretary K M Chandrasekhar to the PM, the latter directed that a policy circular be issued to all the secretaries to government of India. Chandrasekhar subsequently addressed a letter on February 3, 2011 to all Secretaries, copy of which is reproduced below.

Dear Secretary

It has been observed that some Ministries and Departments are undertaking surveyson certain sectors relating to their charge and also generating and disseminating datas on the same Such data sometimes differ from the data/estimates available in surveys undertaken by the National Sample Survey Organisation. and Central Satistical Organisation CSO. under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. You would agree that creating multiple official estimates of the same underlying variable is not advisable.

Accordingly with a view to avoiding duplication of efforts and ensuring consistency between different sets of data and also to ensure reliability of data, it has been decided with the approval of the Prime Minister that all steps should be taken to avoid duplication of effort and multiplicity of official data/estimate of the same underlying variables, where the Ministires and departments still wish to collect data pertaining to aspects for which there are already official estimatesprepared by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the reasons for collecting such data need to be stated clearly and the two efforts should be coordinated.Further any such data should be produced only with appropriate technical oversight,preferably by the National Statistics Organisation.

Also the Ministries and Departments should invaribalay consult the Planning Commission before publishing any statistical data relating to economic status of the population/section of the population of any other sector. As and when such data is published there shouldbe sufficient explanation for differences if any with already available official data.

You are requested to ensure strict complaince of theabove instructions.

Yours sincerely,

K M Chandrasekhar
Cabient Secretary