Context:
Recently, India has joined the prestigious United Nations Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics (UN-CEBD).
Significance of India’s Inclusion in the Committee of Experts:
- This inclusion showcases the growing stature of India in the global statistical community and highlights its commitment to leveraging data and technology for informed decision-making.
- This recognition will strengthen India’s ability to influence global statistical practices, reinforcing its commitment to data-driven progress and sustainable development.
- India’s active engagement in the Committee of Experts will highlight its pioneering initiatives, including the establishment of the Data Innovation Lab and exploration of alternate data sources such as satellite imagery and machine learning for policy making.
It also complements India’s ongoing efforts to:
- Streamline Statistical Production: It drives innovation in data collection, processing, and analysis to reduce the time lag in data availability.
- Improve Decision-Making: It provides policymakers with real-time insights for evidence-based decisions, addressing key socio-economic challenges.
- Foster International Collaboration: It shares India’s expertise while learning from global best practices to create robust, future-ready statistical frameworks.
India’s Inclusion in this expert committee comes at a crucial time, as India recently assumed membership of the United Nations Statistical Council after a significant gap.
UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics (UN-CEBD)
- It was created at the 45th session of the UN Statistical Commission held in 2014 with Australia as its first Chair.
- It was created to further investigate the benefits and challenges of Big Data, including the potential for monitoring and reporting on the sustainable development goals.
- The UN-CEBD consists of 31 member states and 16 international organizations
- The Advisory Board is the management body of the UN-CEBD. It is scheduled to meet about 4 times per year to review the work of the UN-CEBD and give strategic direction.