A Campus Visit and the Session on ‘Modernising the Official Statistics System — Creating the Backbone of Sound Public Policy’ at Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), Bengaluru, on 9th July 2026 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The visit was coordinated by Prof. Rishikeshav and Prof. HARSHITHA , with enthusiastic participation of 88 students.
During the visit, students explored the world-class campus of IIM Bangalore and were introduced to its academic infrastructure, library, classrooms, research centres, and innovation ecosystem
“The way the data is collected, the way the data is compiled, that ultimately determines how a country is viewed by people, both domestically and outside,” observed Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India, while delivering the 8th lecture of the Centre for Public Policy Lecture Series earlier today, on the topic: ‘Modernising the Official Statistics System — Creating the Backbone of Sound Public Policy’.
. Dr. Garg highlighted the evolution of India’s statistical system, emphasizing the importance of data in enhancing citizen service delivery through initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, PM Mudra, Gati Shakti, Digi Yatra, and unified family registries, which have significantly reduced scheme rollout times. He explained that official data derives from three main sources: the census, surveys, and administrative data, with the latter becoming increasingly vital due to digital infrastructure advancements. He underscored that achieving India’s Viksit Bharat @2047 vision—aiming for zero poverty, universal quality education, increased female labor force participation, and a fully skilled workforce—relies heavily on timely and robust data to monitor progress and make necessary adjustments.
Program Outcome
- Students developed awareness of major government policies affecting education, healthcare, employment, and the economy.
- Achieving ambitious national goals such as zero poverty, universal quality education, increased female labor force participation, and a fully skilled workforce
- Students gained first-hand exposure to the academic environment of IIM Bangalore