The statistics ministry aims to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a significant and concrete manner for the eight Economic Census (EC), which is likely to be conducted through 2025 (January to December), two officials told FE.
“The statistics ministry shall use AI to pre-fill data in the forms that will be filled by survey (EC) participants, as the objective is to minimise errors and time taken to complete the exercise,” one official said. “AI is going to be used as a key tool going forward in many key surveys that will be conducted.”
The Economic Census is a survey that offers detailed information on the operational and structural characteristics of all establishments across the country. It provides valuable insights into the geographical distribution and concentration of economic activities, ownership structures, and workforce composition.
The data collected from this census plays a crucial role in socio-economic development planning at both state and district levels.
Presently, the EC is conducted every five-seven years, but the government is planning to conduct it more frequently, and that would require a better and prudent use of technology, another official said.
The results of the seventh EC have not yet come out, which was conducted between 2019 and 2021, due to data quality concerns. It’s, however, likely to be out in the coming months, said an official.
The sixth Economic Census was conducted during 2013-14. It enumerated all establishments engaged in various agricultural and non-agricultural activities excluding crop production, plantation, public administration, defence and compulsory social security.
The data showed that 58.5 million establishments were found to be in operation. Of that, 34.8 million establishments (59.48%) were found in rural areas and nearly 23.7 million establishments (40.52%) were found to be located in urban areas.
Around 131.29 million persons were found employed in 58.5 million establishments. Out of the total, 67.89 million persons (51.71%) were employed in rural areas and 63.4 million persons (48.29%) in urban areas.
