Indian Statistical Institute Hosts Conclave on Theoretical and Empirical Issues in Official Statistics in Kolkata
Two-day national conclave to bring together leading statisticians, economists, policymakers and government representatives to discuss the future of India’s official statistical system
KOLKATA, November 3, 2026: The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata, is hosting a two-day Indian Official Statistics Conclave on Theoretical and Empirical Issues (OCTEI) on November 3 and 4, 2026. Organised by the Sampling and Official Statistics Unit (SOSU) of ISI, the conclave aims to provide an important platform for discussions on the theoretical foundations, empirical challenges and evolving policy requirements of India’s official statistical system.
The conclave is being inaugurated by Professor S. Mahendra Dev, Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) and former Director and Vice-Chancellor of the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR).
The event is being held at the PJA Auditorium of the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, with participation from distinguished academics, former government officials, statisticians, economists and representatives of national and international institutions.
Focus on the Foundations of Official Statistics
The first day, November 3, features two major technical sessions. The opening session, titled Theoretical Issues in Official Statistics, is chaired by Professor (Emeritus) Arup Bose of ISI Kolkata. Professor Saibal Chattopadhyay, former Director of IIM Calcutta and former Chairperson of the National Statistical Commission, Government of India, is delivering the keynote address.
The session also features contributions from Professor (Retd.) Gopal Basak, Professor Debashis Paul and Dr. Anurag Dey, among others.
The second session, focusing on Empirical Issues in Official Statistics, is chaired by Professor (Retd.) Bimal Roy, former Chairman of the National Statistical Commission and former Director of ISI. Professor (Retd.) Mausumi Bose of ISI Kolkata is the keynote speaker.
Other speakers include Professor Debasis Sengupta, Professor Nachiketa Chattopadhyay, Professor Swagatam Das and Dr. Kaushik Jana of ISI Delhi.
Day Two to Examine Emerging Challenges and Policy Applications
The second day, November 4, will feature discussions on Indian Official Statistics: Some Issues, chaired by Professor (Retd.) S.P. Mukherjee of Calcutta University and Chairman of the Board of Directors of ISEC.
Shri Ravi Shonkor, Executive Director of the Department of Statistics and Information Management, Reserve Bank of India, will deliver the keynote address.
The session will also include contributions from Shri Aloke Kar, Shri P.C. Mohanan, Shri G.C. Manna and Shri Onkar Prasad Ghosh, ISS, Deputy Director General, Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS), Government of India.
Another significant highlight will be a panel discussion on Official Data Analytics for Policy Needs, scheduled for the afternoon of November 4. Moderated by Shri Subrata Gupta, IAS (Retd.), the discussion will examine how official data and analytical frameworks can better support evidence-based policymaking.
Professor Pulak Ghosh of IIM Bangalore and EAC-PM will deliver the keynote address.
The panel will bring together experts from the World Bank, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Tourism, NITI Aayog, Krea University and the Government of Tripura. Participants include Dr. Utz Pape, Dr. Himadri Ghosh, Shri Venkatramana R. Hegde, Ms. Radha R. Ashrit, Ms. Sharon Buteau and Dr. Swati Bhattacharjee.
Special Poster Session on Evidence-Based Governance
A special poster session will run across both days under the theme Evidence-Based Policy Making: Showcasing State-Level Experiences. Organised in collaboration with the Centre for Effective Governance of Indian States (CEGIS Foundation), the session will showcase initiatives and experiences from different states and organisations.
Dr. K. Satpathy, Chief Librarian of ISI, is coordinating the poster session, which will provide an opportunity to highlight practical applications of statistical evidence in governance and public administration.
Strengthening India’s Official Statistical Ecosystem
The conclave comes at a time when reliable official statistics, data quality, analytical methodologies and evidence-based governance are increasingly important for India’s development planning and public policy decisions.
By bringing together academic researchers, statistical professionals, policymakers and institutional representatives, OCTEI seeks to encourage meaningful dialogue between theoretical research and the practical requirements of official data systems.
The organising committee is chaired by Professor Debashis Paul, ISI Kolkata, with Professor Sandip Mitra serving as Convener. The committee includes eminent faculty members and researchers from ISI Kolkata, Delhi and Bangalore.
The two-day programme is expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of the challenges facing India’s official statistical framework and the role of robust statistical evidence in shaping informed public policy.
For further information: www.octei.in
Suman Munshi
Chief Editor
IBG NEWS
