**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) jointly organized a two-day conference on "Enhancing Gender Statistics" from January 15-16, 2026, in New Delhi. The conference aimed to address methodological challenges in collecting gender data and improve its quality and relevance for policy. The conference concluded with a reaffirmation of the importance of robust gender statistics for evidence-based policymaking in India.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Conference Overview**
* Organized by MoSPI and NCAER on January 15-16, 2026, in New Delhi.
* Focused on "Enhancing Gender Statistics".
* Brought together policymakers, researchers, and statisticians.
* **Objectives**
* Examine methodological challenges in collecting data from and about women.
* Improve data quality, relevance, and usability for policy.
* **Inaugural Session**
* Welcome address by Shri Suresh Goyal (Director General, NCAER).
* Dr. Saurabh Garg (Secretary, MoSPI) emphasized the importance of gender statistics in policymaking.
* Dr. Sonalde Desai (NCAER) highlighted the need for gender-responsive data systems.
* **Discussions and Presentations**
* Focused on measuring gender inequality, gender mainstreaming in data collection, and identifying data gaps and biases.
* Included technical presentations on the Indian statistical system.
* Discussed Sustainable Development Goals through a gender lens.
* **Valedictory Remarks**
* Shri N. K. Santoshi (Director General, Central Statistics, MoSPI) reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to strengthening gender-responsive statistical systems.
* **Conference Conclusion**
* Reaffirmed the critical role of robust gender statistics in advancing evidence-based policymaking.
**Impact Analysis**
**MoSPI & NCAER**
* **Impact:** Reinforced commitment to improving gender statistics and data collection methodologies.
* **Action Required:** Continue strengthening gender-responsive statistical systems and improving data quality through methodological refinement and institutional collaboration.
**Policymakers, Researchers, and Statisticians**
* **Impact:** Increased awareness and understanding of challenges and strategies in enhancing gender statistics.
* **Action Required:** Implement best practices and integrate gender perspectives into statistical methodologies and policy design.
**Government of India**
* **Impact:** Improved ability to design, monitor, and evaluate government schemes effectively.
* **Action Required:** Utilize gender-disaggregated data for evidence-based policy design and implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI): The primary organizing ministry of the 'Enhancing Gender Statistics' conference.
National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER): Co-organizer of the 'Enhancing Gender Statistics' conference, hosting it at its New Delhi campus.
Enhancing Gender Statistics: The subject and title of the conference, focused on improving gender statistics in policymaking.
New Delhi: Location of the conference at the NCAER campus.
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
Conference on Enhancing Gender Statistics |
NCAER and MoSPI
प्रव तथ: 17 JAN 2026 5:14PM by PIB Delhi
A two-day conference on “Enhancing Gender Statistics” was organised by the Social Statistics Division of
the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and National Council of Applied
Economic Research (NCAER) on 15–16 January 2026 at the NCAER campus in New Delhi. The
conference brought together policymakers, researchers and statisticians to deliberate on the topic of
“Enhancing Gender Statistics”.
The inaugural session began with a welcome address by Shri Suresh Goyal, Director General, NCAER,
who warmly welcomed Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI, and emphasised the critical role of robust
gender statistics in informed and inclusive policymaking. Dr. Sonalde Desai, Professor and Centre
Director, NDIC, NCAER, provided context-setting remarks, underscoring the need for gender-responsive
data systems to support evidence-based development planning.
Delivering the inaugural address, Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI, highlighted the importance of
gender statistics in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of public policy. Drawing on examples from
several flagship government schemes, he emphasised how genderdisaggregated data are essential for
effective evidence-based policy design and implementation.
The primary objective of the conference was to examine methodological challenges in collecting data
from women and about women, with a focus on improving data quality, relevance, and usability for policy.
The sessions featured eminent speakers and distinguished experts, including Dr Gurucharan Manna
(Senior Adviser, NCAER and Former DG, NSSO and CSO), Mr. Aloke Kar, (Visiting Scientist, ISI and
Former ISS officer), Ms Shamika Ravi (Member, PM–EAC), Dr. Sonalde Desai (NCAER), Mr. Satish B.
Agnihotri, Professor, IIT Bombay (Former Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat), Dr. S. Chandrasekhar,
Professor, IGIDR andDr. Ashwini Deshpande, Professor, Ashoka University. Speakers also included experts from MoSPI,
NCAER, Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), World Bank, ILO, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, Azim Premji
University, O.P. Jindal Global University, Population Foundation of India, United Nations representatives,
and other premier academic and research institutions.
Discussions focused on challenges in measuring gender inequality in economic empowerment, strategies
for gender mainstreaming in data collection, and the identification of critical data gaps and biases that
limit the accurate capture of women’s lived realities. The conference also underscored the importance of
integrating gender perspectives into evolving statistical methodologies. The programme featured technical
presentations on the evolution, key findings, and emerging challenges of the Indian statistical system,
followed by focused discussions on the Sustainable Development Goals through a gender lens, and an
engaging panel discussion on gender and emerging policy priorities.
In his valedictory remarks, Shri N. K. Santoshi, Director General (Central Statistics), MoSPI, reaffirmed
the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening gender-responsive statistical systems and improving data
quality, granularity, and policy relevance through continued methodological refinement and institutional
collaboration.
The two-day conference concluded with a strong reaffirmation of the critical role of robust, inclusive, and
methodologically sound gender statistics in advancing evidence-based policymaking and gender-
responsive development outcomes in India.
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