Date: 2026-05-16Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Inviting feedback and suggestions on the Base Paper on “Framework for Measuring the Contribution of Knowledge and Knowledge Products to the Indian Economy”
**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has released a Base Paper titled “Framework for Measuring the Contribution of Knowledge and Knowledge Products to the Indian Economy” and is seeking public feedback. This initiative aims to establish a novel framework for quantifying the economic impact of knowledge, including traditional knowledge and R&D, to inform future policy. Stakeholders and the general public are invited to submit their suggestions via email by the deadline of June 15, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Background and Development**
* **Need for Framework:** Rapid technological changes and organizational innovations necessitate a formal method to assess knowledge's contribution to the economy.
* **Technical Advisory Group (TAG):** Constituted in February 2025, the TAG included experts from think tanks, industry, academia, and government ministries to develop a taxonomy of knowledge products.
* **Consultation Process:** The Base Paper was developed following a September 2025 workshop that identified quantitative indicators and data sources for measuring GDP contribution.
**Structure of the Base Paper**
* **Chapter 1 (Conceptual Considerations):** Explores the dimensions of knowledge, its creation, and its impact on the economy.
* **Chapter 2 (Methodologies):** Outlines evaluation methods for Research & Development (R&D), Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), the digital economy, and academic output.
* **Chapter 3 (Traditional Knowledge):** Examines the role, preservation, and documentation of India’s traditional knowledge and presents related metrics.
* **Chapter 4 (Valuation Framework):** Provides a comprehensive framework primer to consolidate evidence and define the constituents of knowledge impact.
**Future Implementation**
* **Actionable Policy Paper:** A newly constituted "Committee on Knowledge Systems," chaired by Shri Ratan P. Watal, will use the Base Paper and received feedback to prepare an Actionable Policy Paper.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholders (Think tanks, industry bodies, academia, and government ministries)**
**Impact**
These groups are directly affected as the framework will define how their sectors' intellectual and R&D outputs are valued within the national economy.
**Action Required**
Review the Base Paper and provide technical feedback or suggestions to maneesh.jindal@mospi.gov.in and neeraj.kumar007@nic.in.
**General Public**
**Impact**
The general public has the opportunity to influence a novel economic measurement initiative that captures the evolving dynamics of the Indian economy.
**Action Required**
Submit comments and suggestions on the framework by June 15, 2026.
**Committee on Knowledge Systems**
**Impact**
The committee is tasked with the mandate of transitioning the theoretical Base Paper into a functional policy document.
**Action Required**
Synthesize the feedback received from the consultation process to finalize the Actionable Policy Paper.
Key Entities Referenced
Base Paper on "Framework for Measuring the Contribution of Knowledge and Knowledge Products to the Indian Economy": The primary draft document released for public feedback, focusing on creating a taxonomy and identifying indicators to measure knowledge's impact on GDP.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI): The nodal ministry undertaking the exercise to develop a novel framework for assessing the knowledge economy.
Committee on Knowledge Systems: A committee chaired by Shri Ratan P. Watal mandated to prepare the final Actionable Policy Paper based on the findings of the Base Paper.
Technical Advisory Group (TAG): An expert group chaired by Dr. R Balasubramaniam that provided the initial inputs and recommendations used to prepare the Base Paper.
Actionable Policy Paper on the Framework for Measuring the Contribution of Knowledge and Knowledge Products to the Economy: The upcoming final policy document intended to establish a comprehensive framework for capturing knowledge's economic impact.
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
Inviting feedback and suggestions on the Base
Paper on “Framework for Measuring the
Contribution of Knowledge and Knowledge
Products to the Indian Economy”
Posted On: 16 MAY 2026 9:46AM by PIB Delhi
Rapid technological changes, complex skill demands, and organisational innovations in a competitive
environment increasingly reflect the growing centrality of knowledge in the economy. In this context, it
has become essential to assess the contribution of knowledge to the economy and to recommend policy
measures that capture its evolving dynamics.
To address this need, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is undertaking an
exercise to develop a framework for measuring the contribution of knowledge and knowledge products to
the Indian economy. In the absence of a comparable precedent, this exercise represents a novel initiative in
this direction and necessitates association of experts and other stakeholders.
Based on the recommendations of a meeting chaired by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific
Advisor to the Government of India in February 2025, a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was constituted
for this purpose under the chairmanship of Dr. R Balasubramaniam, then Member of the Capacity
Building Commission, comprising members from think tanks, industry bodies, academia, and
representatives from Central Government ministries. A brainstorming workshop was organised in
September 2025 which focused on developing a taxonomy of knowledge products and identifying
potential quantitative indicators and data sources to measure their contribution to GDP. Based on the
TAG’s inputs, suggestions from the brainstorming session and subsequent discussions with a wide range
of experts, a Base Paper on a Framework for Measuring the Contribution of Knowledge and Knowledge
Products to the Indian Economy has been prepared in the Ministry. The Base Paper can be accessed here
at https://mospi.gov.in/announcements.
The Paper consists of four chapters namely;
Chapter 1: Knowledge and Knowledge Economy—Conceptual Considerations
Chapter 2: Available Methodologies and Quantities
Chapter 3: India’s Traditional Knowledge—Dimensions and Challenges, and,
Chapter 4: Valuation of the Knowledge Contribution to the Economy; A Framework Primer.
The first chapter deals with the conceptual considerations on the dimensions of knowledge, its creation
and dynamics and the recent discussions surrounding its impact on the economy. The second chapter lays
out the available methodologies for evaluation of research & development, intellectual property rights,
digital economy and academic output and presents a few metrics for valuing these components of
knowledge. The third chapter examines the prevalence of traditional knowledge in the Indian economy
and its role across activities. It reviews literature and the initiatives on its preservation, documentation,and classification, and presents related metrics. Chapter 4 presents an initial attempt to consolidate
evidence into a comprehensive framework for capturing the impact of knowledge on the economy, and
defines its essential constituents.
In continuation of this exercise, MoPSI has now constituted a Committee on Knowledge Systems under
the chairmanship of Shri Ratan P. Watal, former Member Secretary of the Economic Advisory Council to
the Prime Minister with the mandate to prepare an Actionable Policy Paper on the Framework for
Measuring the Contribution of Knowledge and Knowledge Products to the Economy. The aforementioned
Base Paper will form the basis for the Actionable Policy Paper.
Comments and suggestions on the Base Paper are invited from all stakeholders and the general public as
part of the consultation process. Feedback may be shared with this Ministry on the email IDs: maneesh.jin
dal@mospi.gov.in and neeraj.kumar007[at]nic[dot]in by 15 June 2026, which will enable the early
finalization of the framework.
Samrat/Pranab
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