The elephant in India’s data room, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• India's data system is fragmented and lacks interoperability, hindering effective policy implementation.
• NITI Aayog reports welfare program databases often list the same beneficiary multiple times, inflating spending by 4%-7% annually.
• Deleting ineligible names from PM-KISAN scheme is expected to save ₹90 billion in FY2024.
• Removing bogus LPG connections could save ₹210 billion over two years.
• Eliminating fake ration cards may save around ₹100 billion annually.
• The National Data Governance Framework Policy (NDGFP) proposes the India Data Management Office (IDMO) to enforce data standards.
• Improving public-sector data availability could add up to 1.5% of GDP.

Detailed Insights:

• India's data ecosystem is incoherent due to Ministries not using shared standards for common indicators.
• Data collected by individual Ministries often cannot be integrated seamlessly, making consolidation a laborious task.
• Childhood tuberculosis cases are recorded separately in different health systems, creating conflicting estimates.
• In the Global Innovation Index 2024, India had missing data for two indicators and outdated data for eight.
• The IDMO needs authority to set binding standards, audit compliance, and resolve disputes across Ministries.
• Alignment with global statistical frameworks like the UN’s System of National Accounts is crucial.
• Scaling up "data.gov.in" into a centralised repository can improve public access and internal data needs.
• NITI Aayog’s Data Governance Quality Index should be an annual benchmark tied to performance reviews.
• Data standardisation is essential for India to achieve its goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Interoperability: The ability of computer systems or software to exchange and make use of information.
• Data Standardisation: Establishing uniform formats and definitions for data across different systems.
• Data Governance: The overall management of the availability, usability, integrity, and security of data.