India turns to artificial intelligence for better and faster economic data

The country of 1.3 billion people, only 20 per cent of whom know how to use the internet, had to suspend field surveys during the lockdown, which led to gaps in reporting monthly retail inflation numb

Shipping, GDP, India
Premium

Representative image

Vrishti Beniwal | Bloomberg
India is turning from man to machines to improve the quality and speed of its economic data, which has been criticized as inadequate, delayed or even confusing due to sharp and unexpected revisions.
 
The Ministry of Statistics is ramping up use of artificial intelligence for collecting, analyzing and reporting data to better monitor the economy. The measures include a $60 million program with World Bank help using an information portal that collates real-time data.

"Because of the changing landscape, there’s a growing need for more and more data, faster data and also more refined data products," Statistics Secretary Kshatrapati Shivaji said in an interview. With end-to-end computerization, "this type of automation will enhance the quality, credibility and timeliness of data."

Also Read

Data, AI can add $500 bn to India's GDP, need to be leveraged: Nasscom

Data & AI have potential to add $500 billion to economy by 2025: Nasscom

Quick AI adoption essential for future of work in India, says Intel

It takes a lot of energy for machines to learn - Why AI is so power-hungry?

Data security drives the rise of private cloud

Why India should honour the $1.2 bn arbitration award in Cairn's favour

Discoms should be consumer-centric, bring more pvt investment: House panel

Firmly behind the curve: PSUs became the biggest laggards on Indian bourses

Earnings contraction, poor returns weigh on stock valuations of PSUs

India's consumption economy will be third-largest by 2030: Flipkart CEO

First Published: Jan 28 2021 | 8:36 AM IST

Explore News

To read the full story, subscribe to BS Premium now, at just Rs 249/ month.

Key stories on business-standard.com are available only to BS Premium subscribers.

Register to read more on Business-Standard.com