Government Unveils Statistics Hackathon to Empower Youth

Synopsis

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, along with MyGov, is launching the 'Innovate with GoIStats' hackathon, aimed at engaging youth in utilizing official statistics to create impactful data-driven insights for a developed India.

Key Takeaways

Hackathon Theme: Data-Driven Insights for Viksit Bharat
Duration: February 25 to March 31
Prizes: Total of 30 cash awards
Data Sources: Official datasets including PLFS, HCES, and GDP
Participation: Open to undergraduate and postgraduate students

New Delhi, Feb 25 (NationPress) The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), in partnership with MyGov, is initiating an engaging data-visualisation hackathon named "Innovate with GoIStats", focusing on the theme "Data-Driven Insights for Viksit Bharat".

This hackathon aims to motivate India's talented youth - both students and researchers - to leverage the extensive official statistics produced by the National Statistics Office (NSO) to develop innovative data-driven insights, as per an official announcement.

The event will be hosted on the MyGov platform, running from February 25 to March 31. Individuals pursuing either undergraduate or postgraduate education, or engaged in research, are welcome to participate. The top 30 submissions, evaluated by a panel of industry and academic experts, will be awarded cash prizes, including a first prize of Rs 2 lakh, two second prizes of Rs 1 lakh each, two third prizes of Rs 50,000 each, and 25 consolation prizes of Rs 20,000 each, as stated by MoSPI.

Participants are encouraged to investigate and analyze official statistics from various datasets available on the ministry’s website, including the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), Household Consumer Expenditure Survey (HCES), Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), Consumer Price Index (CPI), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and more, to create meaningful visual representations that support evidence-based policymaking on the path to Viksit Bharat, the statement elaborated.

Engaging in this hackathon will provide participants with practical experience in working with official statistics, thereby establishing a solid foundation for data-driven policy insights.

For additional details and registration, interested participants can visit: https://innovateindia.mygov.in/goistats

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation compiles statistics from administrative sources, surveys, and censuses conducted by both the Centre and state governments, as well as various non-official sources and studies. The surveys are carried out using scientific sampling techniques, with dedicated field personnel collecting the data.

India adheres to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Special Data Dissemination Standards (SDDS) and is actively working to meet these requirements.

To ensure the high quality of statistics released by the Ministry, methodological aspects related to the compilation of national accounts are monitored by committees, including the Advisory Committee on National Accounts, the Standing Committee on Industrial Statistics, and the Technical Advisory Committee on Price Indices. The Ministry compiles datasets using current information, applying standard statistical methods and thorough review processes.