The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) organised the Culmination Ceremony of the 75th Anniversary of the National Sample Survey (NSS) along with the observance of World Statistics Day on 18 November 2025 at Udaipur. The event marked the conclusion of a year-long nationwide celebration undertaken through technical sessions, capacity-building activities, outreach programmes and engagements with students, policymakers and researchers across the country.

The ceremony recognised the contribution of generations of field staff, statisticians and institutional partners who have upheld the integrity and credibility of the NSS over 75 years. The event brought together 700 participants including NSS field staff, senior officers of MoSPI, representatives of line Ministries, retired officials of MoSPI, members of the National Statistical Commission, State DES, academia, media, etc.

The programme was graced by Rao Inderjit Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), MoSPI, as the Chief Guest.

The event began with lighting of the ceremonial lamp, followed by a musical jugalbandi presented by officials from RO Madurai and RO Sambalpur.

Delivering the opening remarks, Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI, underscored the adoption of digital tools such as e-SIGMA, chatbots and CAPI, the integration of survey data with administrative sources, the need for updated sampling frames in rapidly urbanising areas, and the role of over 10,000 field staff who support continuous nationwide data collection. He also emphasised the opportunities emerging in the context of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Addressing the gathering, the Hon’ble Minister emphasised the importance of credible, timely statistics in nation-building and acknowledged the contribution of NSS over 75 years. commended the efforts of statisticians and field staff for their dedication in enabling a data-driven future for Viksit Bharat @ 2047.

In her Address, Ms. Geeta Singh Rathore, Director General (NSS), highlighted the legacy and nationwide footprint of NSS operations. Over the journey of 75 Years, she reiterated that how NSS transited from paper based survey to CAPI.

Hon'ble Minister released several key publications and initiatives during the ceremony. These included the Coffee Table Book “From Inception to Innovation: The Story of NSS”, chronicling the organisation’s 75-year evolution; “Stories Behind Numbers - Journal of FOD” featuring creative works by NSS staff; and a special Sarvekshana Supplement commemorating the NSS’s 75-year journey and researchers’ contributions. The updated National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025, aligned with ISIC Rev. 5 and reflecting emerging sectors was also launched. Hon’ble Minister further unveiled the Data Innovation Lab Portal, a digital platform promoting innovation in official statistics through AI/ML use cases, pilot tools and collaborative resources.

The Hon’ble Minister also released the Anthem of the National Statistics Office, MoSPI sung by Shri Shankar Mahadevan renowned singer and music composer, celebrating the values of accuracy, transparency and evidence-based policymaking.

During the event, vibrant cultural performances was also organised showcasing the creativity, diversity, and shared spirit of the NSS family across India.

The segment opened with a video compilation capturing key activities undertaken nationwide during the year-long celebration, including the 19th Statistics Day, release of commemorative stamp and coin, and various outreach and engagement initiatives by Regional Offices. Regional Offices of Patna, Shilong, Shimla, Gangtok, Ajmer, Burdwan and Thiruvananthapuram mesmerise the audience by performing different cultural activities.

A panel discussion on “Stories of Data Collection in NSS Surveys”, moderated by Shri S. L. Menaria, former DG, featuring a Sarpanch, a Girdawar and an Industrialist was conducted wherein perspectives on the role of reliable data in governance, administration, and industry was discussed.

World Statistics Day is observed globally every five years on 20 October. In alignment with the global observance, NSO, MoSPI also celebrated World Statistics Day today. A session on improving field communication strategy, covering challenges was conducted. Another session on the new CAPI application developed for the CPI revision to the 2024 base year was presented outlining features such as secure single-login access, role-based scrutiny modules, geo-tagged outlets, and improved filtering options aimed at enhancing accuracy, supervision, and timeliness of price data.

The event reaffirmed the commitment of NSO, MoSPI to uphold and advance the quality, integrity, and usability of official statistics in India.

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Samrat

 

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