MoSPI signs MoU with Pahle India Foundation on statistics collaboration
Synopsis
MoSPI has formalised a research partnership with Pahle India Foundation just months after releasing a landmark publication on India's revamped National Accounts methodology. The tie-up signals a push to bring independent analytical rigour to official statistics as the government embeds a new 2022-23 base year across macroeconomic planning.
Key Takeaways
MoSPI and Pahle India Foundation signed an MoU on 8 October 2026 in New Delhi to collaborate on official statistics and research.
The agreement was signed by Sunitha Bhaskar , Additional Director General, MoSPI, and Ravi Pokharna , Executive Director, Pahle India Foundation.
Collaboration will cover research, data analysis, capacity building, and knowledge sharing, with priorities set by MoSPI.
In August 2026 , MoSPI released a consolidated publication on India's new National Accounts Statistics series with base year 2022-23 .
Revised methodologies cover industries including construction , agriculture , livestock , forestry , and services , as well as Supply Use Tables and Regional Accounts .
The National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pahle India Foundation in New Delhi on 8 October 2026, formalising a framework for collaboration on official statistics, research, data analysis, capacity building, and knowledge sharing, according to an official statement.
What the MoU Covers
The agreement is designed to provide a broad cooperative framework between the two institutions in areas of mutual interest. Specific collaborative activities will be undertaken based on the priorities set by MoSPI, with the foundation contributing research expertise and analytical capacity to support official statistical work.
The MoU was signed by Sunitha Bhaskar, Additional Director General, MoSPI, and Ravi Pokharna, Executive Director, Pahle India Foundation. Senior officials from MoSPI and representatives of the Pahle India Foundation were also present at the signing ceremony.
Background: MoSPI's Recent Statistical Modernisation Push
This development comes as MoSPI accelerates efforts to modernise India's statistical infrastructure. In August 2026, the ministry released a consolidated publication detailing data sources, methodologies, and compilation practices for India's new series of National Accounts Statistics, based on the revised base year 2022-23.
A central theme of that publication is the modernisation of estimation methodologies across corporate, financial, government, and household sectors. The report is intended to serve as a reference document for policymakers, researchers, analysts, and academics seeking to better understand India's National Accounts compilation framework.
Revised Methodologies and Industry Coverage
The August publication consolidated the recommendations of multiple expert committees already in the public domain, presenting in a single document the statistical framework and processes used to compile major macroeconomic aggregates. Notably, it also included methodology for compiling Supply Use Tables (SUT) and guidelines for Regional Accounts.
Compilation methodologies for key industries — including construction, agriculture, livestock, forestry, and services — have been revised to ensure greater consistency in estimating economic activity, reflecting recent economic realities and improved data availability.
Significance and What to Watch
The MoU with Pahle India Foundation signals a broader institutional effort by MoSPI to draw on think-tank expertise as India transitions to its new National Accounts base year. With the 2022-23 base year series still being embedded across government planning and policy, independent analytical partnerships of this kind could help stress-test methodologies and build researcher confidence in official data. The specific collaborative activities under the MoU are yet to be publicly detailed and will be announced based on MoSPI's priorities going forward.
Point of View
But the timing gives it context worth watching. MoSPI is in the middle of a significant statistical overhaul — a new National Accounts base year, revised sector methodologies, and the first consolidated methodology publication in years. Bringing in an external research partner at this stage could help legitimise the new series in the eyes of analysts who have historically questioned India's GDP estimates. The real test will be whether the collaboration produces publicly available research that subjects official methodologies to independent scrutiny, or whether it remains a soft-diplomacy exercise between institutions.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MoU between MoSPI and Pahle India Foundation about?
It is a formal agreement signed on 8 October 2026 to strengthen collaboration between the National Statistics Office and the Pahle India Foundation in areas such as official statistics, research, data analysis, capacity building, and knowledge sharing. Specific activities will be determined by MoSPI's priorities.
Who signed the MoU on behalf of each organisation?
Sunitha Bhaskar, Additional Director General of MoSPI, signed on behalf of the ministry, while Ravi Pokharna, Executive Director of Pahle India Foundation, signed for the think-tank. Senior officials from both sides were present at the ceremony.
What is the new National Accounts Statistics publication released by MoSPI?
In August 2026, MoSPI released a consolidated reference document detailing the data sources, methodologies, and compilation practices for India's new National Accounts Statistics series, based on the revised base year 2022-23. It is intended for policymakers, researchers, and analysts.
Which sectors have undergone revised compilation methodologies under the new series?
Methodologies for construction, agriculture, livestock, forestry, and services have been revised to reflect current economic realities and improved data availability. The publication also includes methodology for Supply Use Tables and guidelines for Regional Accounts.
Why does this MoU matter for India's statistical framework?
As India transitions to a new National Accounts base year of 2022-23, partnerships with independent research institutions like Pahle India Foundation could help validate methodologies and build broader confidence in official data among analysts, academics, and policymakers.
