**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has introduced several technological initiatives, including digital platforms and Artificial Intelligence, to modernize the National Sample Survey (NSS). These advancements have significantly reduced the time lag for releasing annual, quarterly, and monthly reports, ensuring faster data dissemination across all States and Union Territories. While an Advance Release Calendar (ARC) now provides tentative publication dates, no specific timeline has been fixed for the full implementation of AI-enabled tools.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Digital Data Collection and Validation**
* Primary data collection has transitioned from paper-based schedules to digital platforms using Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) and web-based applications.
* Systems include in-built validation mechanisms to ensure data consistency at the point of collection and facilitate real-time data submission.
* Digital platforms offer bilingual (Hindi/English) interfaces to improve the ease of data collection.
* Chatbot-based features have been integrated into specific surveys, such as CAPEX, ASI, and ASUSE, to assist field officials and respondents with queries.
* **Operational Efficiency and Monitoring**
* The adoption of digital systems has eliminated the need to physically transport and manually digitize paper schedules, streamlining the entire processing chain.
* Survey processes are monitored through digital systems, with data being examined by supervisory officers at multiple levels.
* The time lag for releasing NSS Annual Reports has been reduced from eight months to approximately three months after fieldwork completion.
* Monthly and quarterly reports are now released within 15 and 40 days, respectively, following the end of the survey period.
* **Data Accessibility and Future Initiatives**
* MoSPI publishes an Advance Release Calendar (ARC) on its website to inform users of the tentative release dates for major statistical reports.
* Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being leveraged to improve the searchability, accessibility, and usability of datasets and publications.
* AI integration is underway for the *eSankhyiki* portal and a revamped website to enhance user interaction and data discovery.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Field Officials and Supervisory Officers**
**Impact**
Digital platforms and CAPI systems reduce the manual burden of data entry and physical transport of schedules. Real-time validation and monitoring tools allow for immediate oversight and higher data consistency.
**Action Required**
Field officials must utilize the bilingual digital interfaces and integrated chatbots to resolve queries and submit survey data in real-time.
**Stakeholder: Data Users and Researchers**
**Impact**
Stakeholders benefit from significantly shorter waiting periods for annual, quarterly, and monthly statistical reports. The integration of AI and the *eSankhyiki* portal improves the ability to search and discover specific datasets.
**Action Required**
Users should refer to the Advance Release Calendar (ARC) on the official MoSPI website to plan for upcoming data releases.
**Stakeholder: Survey Respondents (e.g., CAPEX, ASI, ASUSE)**
**Impact**
Respondents have access to modern tools, such as chatbot-based assistance, to help them navigate and complete survey requirements more easily.
**Action Required**
Respondents are expected to provide data through the provided CAPI or web-based portals as part of the modernized collection process.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI): The primary ministry responsible for implementing technological initiatives and AI tools to modernize national statistical data collection and dissemination.
National Sample Survey (NSS): The national program for primary data collection undergoing modernization through digital platforms, real-time validation, and reduced reporting timelines.
eSankhyiki portal: A digital platform being revamped with AI integration and chatbot features to improve the accessibility and searchability of statistical reports and datasets.
Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI): The digital data collection methodology and web-based application used to replace paper-based schedules for real-time validation and processing of survey data.
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation has undertaken several
technological initiatives to modernise “National
Sample Survey”
Posted On: 18 MAR 2026 1:32PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has undertaken several technological
initiatives in recent years to modernise the National Sample Survey (NSS). Primary data collection in NSS
surveys is carried out through digital platforms using Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) and
web-based applications with in-built validation mechanisms to ensure data consistency at the stage of
collection. These systems facilitate real-time submission and validation of survey data and have helped
reduce the time required for processing and dissemination of survey results. The digital platforms provide
bilingual (Hindi/English) interfaces for ease of data collection. In some surveys such as CAPEX, ASI and
ASUSE, chatbot-based features have also been introduced in the CAPI/web portal to assist respondents
and field officials in resolving queries during data collection. The collected data are further examined by
supervisory officers at different levels and the survey process is monitored through digital systems.
Under the earlier paper-based data collection system, filled-in schedules had to be physically transported
and subsequently digitised before processing, which added to the overall processing time. The adoption of
digital data collection platforms enables near real-time submission and validation of survey data, thereby
streamlining data processing and analysis. As a result, the time lag in release of Annual Reports of NSS
surveys has been reduced from around eight months earlier to about three months after completion of
fieldwork. In addition to this, the monthly and quarterly reports of NSS surveys, wherever applicable, are
released within 15 days and 40 days, respectively, from the end of the corresponding survey period. These
improvements apply uniformly across all surveyed areas of States/Union Territories, including Madhya
Pradesh.
MoSPI publishes an Advance Release Calendar (ARC) on its official website indicating the tentative
schedule for release of major statistical reports and publications, including those based on surveys
conducted under the National Sample Survey. The ARC provides advance information to users regarding
the likely dates of release of various reports.
MoSPI is leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance accessibility, searchability, and usability of
reports, datasets, and publications released by MoSPI to the stakeholders. AI is being integrated into
eSankhyiki portal and AI enabled chatbot has been hosted on MoSPI revamped website to improve data
discovery and to improve user interaction. However, no specific timeline has been fixed for full
implementation of AI-enabled tools.
This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Statistics and
Programme Implementation, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Planning and
Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture Rao Inderjit Singh in the Lok Sabha today.******
Samrat/
(Release ID: 2241639) Visitor Counter : 179
Read this release in: Urdu , ही