Special Data Dissemination Standard
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| The Data: Coverage, Periodicity, and Timeliness | |
| Coverage characteristics | 5.1.1 Statistical presentation The national accounts data are published in a clear manner and they are always accompanied by an analysis of the most recent developments. Several tables contain ratios such as shares in GDP or income per capita. The interpretation of the data is facilitated by charts. The data sets are published with various level of detail. The quarterly national accounts series are not published in seasonally adjusted form. The publications contain growth rates in comparison with the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Notes: |
| Periodicity | 4.1.1 Periodicity Quarterly Notes: |
| Timeliness | 4.1.2 Timeliness Within two months after the end of the reference quarter.Notes: |
| Access by the Public | |
| Advance dissemination of release calendar |
5.1.3 Advance release calendar An advance release calendar which gives one-quarter-ahead notice of the precise release dates is disseminated on the Internet on the IMF's Data Dissemination Bulletin Board (DSBB). A regular notice to this effect is published in the Press Note on Quarterly Estimates of Gross Domestic Product. Flexibility Notes: |
| Simultaneous release to all interested parties |
5.1.4 Simultaneous release The data are released simultaneously to all interested parties by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation issuing a press release Press Note on Quarterly Estimates of Gross Domestic Product.The data are subsequently posted on the following Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation's Internet website http://mospi.nic.in/Mospi_New/upload/mospi_press_releases.htm. |
| Integrity | |
| Dissemination of terms and conditions under which official statistics are produced, including those relating to the confidentiality of individually identifiable information |
0.1.1 Responsibility for collecting, processing, and disseminating statistics Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation The statistical system is decentralized, with the respective ministries having responsibility for the statistics on the subjects under their charge. National accounts
In accordance with the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, as amended from time to time, it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation to compile and release the national accounts data. 0.1.2 Data sharing and coordination among data producing agencies Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation The methodology of compilation is the responsibility of the Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, respectively.National accounts Data sharing and coordination are based on Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, as amended from time to time, and continuous interaction among the data producing agencies.0.1.3 Confidentiality of individual reporters' data Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation Confidentiality of individual responses is maintained.National accounts The confidentiality of individual respondents’ data is maintained as per the provisions of Collection of Statistics Act, 1953. The series are published on a level of aggregation that prevents direct or indirect disclosure of individual data.0.1.4 Ensuring statistical reporting The Collection of Statistics Act, 1953 is the legal basis for collecting industrial statistics.0.2.1 Staff, facilities, computing resources, and financing The number of the staff is adequate to perform the required tasks. Senior as well as junior staff is knowledgeable about the concepts and methods of calculation. Also considerable efforts are devoted to ensure a robust production process in order to ensure the collection, compilation and publication of the national accounts on a timely basis. Further, sufficient computer resources and financial resources for compiling the statistical series have been allocated for performing the required tasks. 0.2.2 Ensuring efficient use of resources Various measures are in place to ensure efficient use of resources. Operational and financial targets are set with any major data collection project and planning ensures that the time of field staff is not wasted. Through introduction of new technologies, efficiency improvements have been sought, and reached, for instance concerning the timeliness with which statistics are released. Targets are assigned to individual officers as well as other staff and the progress they make is monitored.0.3.1 Monitoring user requirements New or emerging data requirements as well as methodological issues are deliberated and decisions taken by the Advisory Committee on National Accounts Statistics regularly and more intensely during the process of revision of base year. Users are also welcome to raise questions and to give suggestions to the Ministry.0.4.1 Quality policy Officers and staff are carefully instructed to comply strictly with all rules regarding integrity and confidentiality to prevent any influence from other parties. Consistency in concepts as well as in published data are also an issue of high priority as even very small discrepancies or ambiguities in the published data may have considerable effect as many policy decisions are based on these statistics.0.4.2 Quality monitoring The quality of data is monitored from the collection in the field (through inspections, crosschecking etc.) until the compilation and dissemination stages. Guidance on improving the quality of statistics is among other things provided by the National Statistical Commission and the Advisory Committee on National Accounts Statistics. The latter convenes normally about twice a year, but much more often if major changes in methodology are introduced. Periodic user surveys are not undertaken. However, the foreword to the annual national accounts publication welcomes suggestions from users for improvement in the coverage and/or presentation of various statistics included in the publication.0.4.3 Quality planning In order to improve the quality of data, the Ministry is having regular interactions with the source agencies to improve their system of data collection and estimation procedures.1.1.1 Impartiality of statistics Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation The Ministers in charge of the respective departments are the final authority for all statistical policies. Under the terms of the Indian Constitution, the Ministers are responsible to the Parliament.National accounts The Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 address the general need for the professional independence of the data producing agency and prohibits interference from others, including other government agencies, in the compilation and/or dissemination of the national accounts. There is thus a long standing tradition of non-interference and impartiality.1.1.2 Selection of sources, methodology, and modes of dissemination The methodology of compilation and selection of sources is the responsibility of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, with advice from the Advisory Committee on National Accounts. The Advisory Committee is always headed by an eminent economist. Other members of the Committee include senior officials of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, officials drawn from the central and State Governments and eminent economist/statistical professionals.1.1.3 Commenting on erroneous interpretation and misuse of statistics Efforts to prevent misinterpretation or misuse of statistics are made by providing explanatory materials and documentation. User assistance is provided for clarifying estimates, as and when sought by the users.1.2.1 Disclosure of terms and conditions for statistical collection, processing, and dissemination Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation The Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules are published in Hindi and English and are available, for a fee, from book stores selling government publications or from:
National accounts The terms and conditions, under which the national accounts is compiled and disseminated, are publicly available in homepages of Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.1.3.1 Guidelines for staff behavior Guidelines for staff behavior are outlined in the Civil Services Conduct Rules, which are implemented and followed in the daily work in the data producing agencies and in the contact with users and respondents. |
| Identification of internal government access to data before release |
1.2.2 Internal governmental access to statistics prior to release Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation The data are made available to various government offices and to the public at the same time. There is no internal government access to the data prior to their release to the public.National accounts Internal government access is not given before the statistical data are released. The press release, appearance on the internet, and information of the main user agencies (among which the Office of the Prime Minister, the Minister of Statistics and Programme Implementation, and the MOF) by facsimile or special messenger take place at exactly the same time. |
| Identification of ministerial commentary on the occasion of statistical releases |
1.2.3 Attribution of statistical products Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation There is no ministerial commentary accompanying the release of the data.National accounts Data released to the public are clearly identified as the product of Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation. Attribution to the agency as such is not explicitly requested. |
| Provision of information about revision and advance notice of major changes in methodology |
4.3.1 Revision schedule The quarterly data, which began to be disseminated in June 1999, are provisional when first released, and will remain provisional until the Annual Estimates become final, normally three years after the annual estimates are first released. The quarterly estimates/growth rates once released for a particular year are revised only at the time of release of corresponding annual estimates. The final annual estimates are published in the annual National Accounts Statistics.4.3.2 Identification of preliminary and/or revised data The text of the publications suggests that the preliminary estimates are subject to revision. The terms of advance estimates, revised estimates, quick estimates are indicated against the corresponding annual estimates.1.2.4 Advance notice of major changes in methodology, source data, and statistical techniques. Major changes in methodology are only made at the time of revision of the base year. The public are informed of minor changes in methodology at the time the changes are introduced through a statement in the publication "National Accounts Statistics". |
| Quality | |
| Dissemination of documentation on methodology and sources used in preparing statistics |
5.2.1 Dissemination of documentation on concepts, scope, classifications, basis of recording, data sources, and statistical techniques A note on the methodology used to compile the quarterly GDP data were published for the first time in the 1999 edition of the annual National Accounts Statistics. The methodology and data sources used in the compilation of quarterly and annual national accounts statistics are documented in National Accounts Statistics - Sources and Methods, the latest version of which has been released in 2012. The document is updated at the time of each revision of the base year. (http://mospi.nic.in/Mospi_New/site/inner.aspx?status=3&menu_id=82). A brief note on the changes incorporated in the national accounts compilation in the new series with base year 2004-05 is available in the brochure relating to the New Series on National Accounts Statistics (Base Year 2004-05), published in February 2010, which provides brief highlights of the various changes/improvements made in the new series. This brochure can be freely downloaded at http://mospi.nic.in/Mospi_New/upload/brochure_%202004-05.pdf. 5.2.2 Disseminated level of detail The disaggregated tables are provided to a large extent in the publication, National Accounts Statistics. Some customized tables keeping in view the needs of specific users are prepared and made available to those users. Some of these are also available at http://mospi.nic.in/Mospi_New/upload/NAS12.htm. |
| Dissemination of component detail, reconciliations with related data, and statistical frameworks that support statistical cross-checks and provide assurance of reasonableness |
4.2.1 Internal consistency The quarterly GDP estimates are always made consistent with the annual GDP estimates. The quarterly data are retroactively revised by spreading differences on the basis of quarterly indicators for each economic activity.4.2.2 Temporal consistency Very long time series of about 60 years are available. The long-term back series data consistent with the new base year are released one year after the revision of base year at national level. The time-lag of one year in releasing the back series is due to the need to change the base years of all regional accounts, which takes about one year time.4.2.3 Intersectoral and cross-domain consistency The national accounts statistics are fully consistent with the balance of payments. They are thought to be close to the government finance statistics. |