Lok Sabha Question No. 1381 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Usage of Artificial Intelligence in Census
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Shri Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1381 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.12.2024

## USAGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN CENSUS

## 1381. SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  integrate  Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning (ML) tools in future surveys including the Economic Census, to enhance data accuracy and reliability;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the details of the frequency by which the Ministry updates rural and  urban  frames  to  accurately  reflect  demographic  changes across the country;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  challenges  faced  by certain  States  in  strengthening  their  statistical  capabilities, which impact their ability to process and approve census data efficiently; and
- (e) whether the Government plans to provide additional resources or training to enhance statistical infrastructure and capabilities in States facing these difficulties, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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]

(a) and (b):  Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) being nodal agency for planned development of the statistical system in the country is also responsible for maintaining the highest standards  of  data  quality.  To  achieve  this,  robust  and  well-defined mechanisms  are  employed  in  different  statistical  products  which

- undergo  periodic  improvements  based  on  evolving  needs,  feedback, and advancements in methodologies to enhance their effectiveness.  Upgradation and synergizing of existing IT based data collection techniques is a continuous process in MoSPI. The primary data collection in surveys of MoSPI is being done in digital platform using  Computer  Assisted  Personal  Interview  (CAPI)  or  web-based application with in-built validation mechanism to ensure consistency at  the  stage  of  data  collection.  Further,  whenever  a  new  survey  is taken  up,  possible  methods  and  new  technologies  are  explored  for their appropriate adoption.
- (c): The surveys of MoSPI use area frame consisting of villages and blocks available respectively from the Population Census for rural areas and Urban Frame Survey (UFS) for urban areas. To accurately reflect  the  demographic  changes  across  the  country,  updation  of urban frame is done through UFS which is conducted periodically and new  block-level  details  of  the  town  are  updated  accordingly.  The frequency of such updates is continuous and every town is updated once in 5 years. Similarly, urbanisation of villages (i.e. creation of new towns  by  State  authorities  or  inclusion  of  rural  areas  into  existing town) leads to the removal of villages from the rural frame and that also is continuous and simultaneous with UFS. Updation of identification or other particulars of villages such as the creation of new districts and updation of the same in rural frame is done as and when information/notification on formation of new districts/tehsils (or other details) are received from State Govt/State authorities.
- (d) to (e): The Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS) sub-scheme is an ongoing Central Sector sub-scheme of MoSPI under which Grant in Aid is released to the Directorate of Economics & Statistics (DESs) of the States/UTs with the aim to improve the statistical capacity and infrastructure of the State statistical system for collection, compilation and dissemination of relevant official statistics. Further, MoSPI also assists in development of statistics in the States/UTs by providing knowledge  sharing  and  technical  assistance  to  State/UT DESs on compilation of various estimates, leveraging expertise in IT strengthening and development, capacity building of statistical personnel  through  regular  and  need-based  training/workshops  and other  interactive  methods,  creation  of  physical  infrastructure  like buildings of State DESs and Training Facilities, etc.