The National Sample Survey (NSS), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, is celebrating 75 years of dedicated service to the nation, making significant contributions to evidence-based decision-making and shaping government policies. To mark this historic occasion, the National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, is organizing a national symposium on ” How NSS Surveys Have Influenced Public Policy ” on October 9, 2025 , at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bengaluru . The event is being organized in collaboration with IIM Bengaluru, with participating institutions including Azim Premji University (APU), the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), and the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Bengaluru. The symposium will provide a platform to reflect on the legacy of the NSS and to meet with central ministries/departments, state governments, international organizations and institutions, etc., to deliberate on the contribution of the NSS in shaping public policy and explore its future role in strengthening governance for a developed India.
The National Sample Survey (NSS) has conducted large-scale household and enterprise surveys on a wide range of socio-economic topics since its inception in 1950. These surveys form the backbone of India’s statistical system and are widely used in policy formulation, planning and program evaluation, and strategic decisions by international organizations, government agencies, industrialists, policymakers, academics, researchers, think tanks, and various ministries and departments. Adopting technological and methodological improvements, including the e-Sigma platform, the NSS now provides more timely and accurate information with quarterly and monthly reports and district-level estimates, ensuring data for evidence-based decision-making.
The symposium will be inaugurated by Dr. Saurabh Garg, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation. Dr. Ashok Dalwai (Retd. IAS), President, Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), will be the chief guest and deliver the keynote address . Ms. Geeta Singh Rathore, Director General, National Sample Survey (NSS), Prof. Rishikesh T. Krishnan, former Director, IIM Bangalore (IIMB), and Prof. Gopal Naik, Chairperson, Centre for Public Policy (CPP) at IIMB will also be present .
The event will be attended by approximately 200 participants , including researchers, academics, economists, industry associations and trade bodies, policymakers, representatives from international organizations, enterprises, as well as prestigious institutions from academia and the media. Members of the National Statistical Commission (NSC), the Steering Committee, and other expert committees of the NSS, and domain experts, will also be present. The inaugural session will be followed by a technical session, three panel discussions , and an open discussion with participants .
The technical session of the symposium, titled “Key New Initiatives Transforming the NSS,” will be presented by Shri Salil Kumar Mukhopadhyay, Additional Director General, Enterprise Survey Division, NSO, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. It will highlight key methodological and technical improvements in NSS surveys, including high-frequency data, district-level estimates, and digital transformation.
The symposium will feature three panel discussions. The first, ” NSS Data for Public Policy and Public Use , ” will include professors, researchers, data scientists, and policy experts and will discuss the role of NSS data in addressing public policy priorities and improving accessibility. The second, ” NSS Data for Research – Key Features and Challenges,” will bring together senior NSS officials, subject experts, and academics to deliberate on the use of NSS data in research and methodological challenges.
The third panel discussion, ” Future Relevance of Unit-Level Data,” will feature eminent experts, including IIMB Professor Pulak Ghosh (part-time member of the EAC-PM), Professor Madhura Swaminathan (ISI Bangalore), Professor Bharat Ramaswamy (Ashoka University), and Dr. Surjeet Bhalla (former part-time member, EAC-PM). The panel will be moderated by Professor Amit Basole (Azim Premji University).
Following the panel discussions , the floor will be open for an interactive session , allowing participants to engage directly with the speakers and panelists. The event will conclude with a presentation of the deliberations ‘ summary and key takeaways.
The symposium will conclude with a summary of key insights. This event marks a significant milestone in India’s statistical journey and reaffirms the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking, fostering collaboration between data producers and users, and strengthening the statistical base for a developed India @2047 .
