The Union
Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval
for adoption of United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics.
The
adoption of the United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics
will bring professional independence, impartiality, accountability and
transparency in methods of collection, compilation and dissemination of
official statistics, besides adopting international standards. The adoption
will also pave way for devising a National Policy on Official Statistics for
improving systems, procedures and institutions consistent with these
principles.
The ten
Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, as endorsed by the UN General
Assembly, are set out below:
Principle 1.
Official statistics provide an indispensable element in the information system
of a democratic society, serving the Government, the economy and the public
with data about the economic, demographic, social and environmental situation.
To this end, official statistics that meet the test of practical utility are to
be compiled and made available on an impartial basis by official statistical
agencies to honor citizens' entitlement to public information.
Principle 2. To
retain trust in official statistics, the statistical agencies need to decide
according to strictly professional considerations, including scientific
principles and professional ethics, on the methods and procedures for the
collection, processing, storage and presentation of statistical data.
Principle 3.
To facilitate a correct interpretation of the data, the statistical agencies
are to present information according to scientific standards on the sources,
methods and procedures of the statistics.
Principle 4.
The statistical agencies are entitled to comment on erroneous interpretation and
misuse of statistics.
Principle 5.
Data for statistical purposes may be drawn from all types of sources, be they
statistical surveys or administrative records. Statistical agencies are to
choose the source with regard to quality, timeliness, costs and the burden on
Respondents.
Principle 6.
Individual data collected by statistical agencies for statistical compilation,
whether they refer to natural or legal persons, are to be strictly confidential
and used exclusively for statistical purposes.
Principle 7.
The laws, regulations and measures under which the statistical systems operate
are to be made public.
Principle 8.
Coordination among statistical agencies within countries is essential to
achieve consistency and efficiency in the statistical system.
Principle 9.
The use by statistical agencies in each country of international concepts,
classifications and methods promotes the consistency and efficiency of
statistical systems at all official levels.
Principle 10.
Bilateral and multilateral cooperation in statistics contributes to the
improvement of systems of official statistics in all countries.
Background:
Most
of the ingredients in these principles are already being adhered to by Ministry
of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) since they are, in any case,
for qualitative improvements and good of the statistical system.
On
a reference from the Ministry of External Affairs on the draft UN General
Assembly Resolution on Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, MoSPI
supported the Resolution. The UN General Assembly endorsed the Principles in
its Resolution in January 2014.
Subsequently,
the matter was reviewed in the 46th session of the United Nations Statistics
Commission held in New York in March 2015, in which Secretary, MoSPI represented
India. The progress of work in implementation of the Fundamental Principles of
Official Statistics is required to be reported by India to the UN Statistics
Division for deliberation in the 48th session of the United Nations
Statistics Commission to be held in 2017. Adoption of these Principles by
Government of India is a basic requirement for their implementation and for
reporting compliance to international obligation.
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AKT/VB/SH