The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), hosted a workshop titled “Emerging Trends in Public Data and Technology for Research and Policy.”
The event marked a significant milestone in leveraging public data and cutting-edge technology for evidence-based policymaking in India.
Distinguished speakers, including Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI; Prof. Bharat Bhaskar, Director of IIMA; and senior officials from both organizations, attended the workshop. Key discussions revolved around harnessing artificial intelligence (AI), rejuvenating legacy datasets, and integrating academic and public-sector expertise for innovative policymaking.
Highlighting AI’s transformative potential, Prof. Bhaskar cautioned against biases in historical data, emphasizing safeguards for fairness. Dr Garg underscored MoSPI’s vision to refresh decades-old datasets with emerging technologies to make them AI-ready. The partnership between MoSPI and IIMA was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), reinforcing efforts to bridge academic research and policy development.
The workshop is a testament to MoSPI’s commitment to fostering innovation, inclusivity, and collaboration within India’s statistical ecosystem.