The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has dissolved the 14-member Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS), chaired by former chief statistician Pronab Sen, citing overlap with the Steering Committee for National Sample Surveys.

The SCoS, which was set up in July 2023, was tasked with advising the Centre on survey methodology, including the sampling frame, sampling design, survey instruments, and finalising the tabulation plan for surveys.

MoSPI had set up the Steering Committee for National Sample Surveys (NSS) following a recommendation from the National Statistical Commission (NSC) to address survey-related matters concerning the NSSO.

“The roles and responsibilities of the Steering Committee are overlapping with that of the Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS) as outlined in the respective Terms of Reference (ToRs). In this context, I would like to convey that the Ministry has decided to dissolve the SCoS, constituted vide its order dated 13th July 2023,” read an email communication sent by Geeta Singh Rathore, Director General of National Sample Surveys, to the committee members.

The SCoS had conducted more than half a dozen meetings over the past year, during which various issues were discussed, including the absence of a Census and concerns related to sampling. The delay in the Census, last held in 2011, has attracted widespread criticism of the Narendra Modi government.

The Congress criticised the Centre for “quietly” disbanding the Standing Committee, accusing the government of dissolving the body because its members repeatedly questioned the delay in conducting the decennial Census, which was due in 2021.

“And for what? Simply for repeatedly asking the Government why the decennial Census last due in 2021 has still not been conducted,” Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said in a post on X.

He claimed the delay had resulted in at least 100 million Indians being denied ration benefits under the National Food Security Act, 2013, and the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.

Lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan added, “Forget caste census. Govt hasn’t done the census of 2021&has now dissolved the Committee on Statistics, so that extent of poverty, unemployment & population is not revealed officially. Govt uses lack of census to deny ration cards to 8Cr migrant workers saying it has exhausted quota.”

In August, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the Census exercise would be carried out “at an appropriate time.” In response, Ramesh mocked the statement, referring to it as a revelation of a “top secret.”

The house listing phase of the Census, along with the National Population Register update, had been scheduled for April 1 to September 30, 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centre has not yet announced a new schedule for the Census, while the Congress-led Opposition continues to demand a ‘caste census,’ describing it as an essential “X-ray” of the country to ensure equitable distribution for all groups.