The Government of India has recently made a significant appointment within its bureaucracy by designating Saurabh Garg, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1991 batch from the Odisha cadre, as the Secretary of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). Saurabh Garg’s extensive experience within the administrative framework will now be directed at spearheading the MoSPI. This strategic move was administered through a directive circulated last week by the Department of Personnel and Training, which conferred upon Garg the additional responsibilities as MoSPI Secretary. He will continue to manage his current duties as the Secretary of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment simultaneously.
This latest governance directive, however, stops short of shedding light on the Chief Statistician of India’s position, a post traditionally synonymous with the MoSPI Secretary’s office. The mandate clarified that Garg’s tenure in this dual capacity would extend up to the point when a permanent successor is appointed or until further instructions emerge, depending on which of the two precedents occurs foremost. The impetus for this transitional assignment was provided by the vacancy that arose following the end of GP Samanta’s tenure on April 15, 2024, as the MoSPI Secretary.
Prior to his association with the MoSPI, GP Samanta served as an advisor with the Reserve Bank of India’s Department of Statistics and Information Management. Samanta’s initial term as the Chief Statistician of India-cum-Secretary of the MoSPI commenced in April 2021 and was meant to span a period of two years. The robust contributions he made in this role were acknowledged with a one-year extension in April 2023, illustrating the caliber of expertise he brought to the position.
An official residing in the office of the Chief Statistician of India shoulders a considerable mantle of responsibility. The individual not only operates at the Secretary level within the Indian Government but also sits at the head of the National Statistical Office (NSO), alongside leading the National Statistical Commission. Such a role places the incumbent at the epicenter of India’s statistical infrastructure, fundamental in shaping policies and interpreting economic indicators for the nation.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation plays a pivotal role in India’s economic fabric through its rigorous schedule of surveys and data compilation exercises. Among its core functions, MoSPI is responsible for conducting the Annual Survey of Industries, the quintennial Consumption Expenditure Survey, and the Periodic Labour Force Survey. Furthermore, MoSPI is instrumental in the compilation of critical datasets that include gross domestic product (GDP) figures and retail inflation statistics, which serve as cornerstones for economic analysis and policymaking.
As India continues to navigate through the complexities of economic planning and implementation, the stewardship of its statistical apparatus becomes increasingly vital. The decision to charge Saurabh Garg with this responsibility, albeit tempora
rily, underscores the government’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of this key administrative segment. Garg’s role will entail ensuring the continuity and reliability of the country’s statistical systems and frameworks, which inform crucial decisions affecting India’s socio-economic landscape. His expertise will be crucial in sustaining the equilibrium of data-driven governance during this period of transition until a permanent figure is inaugurated into this significant office.
