Distinguished think tanks, scholars, and international organizations convened in New Delhi for a productive discussion on the topic of ‘Harnessing Data for Development for Accelerating Progress on the SDGs,’ stemming from the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration 2023 (NDLD 2023).
The Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research (IGIDR) collaborated with NITI Aayog as the main coordinating agency for this workshop. It formed part of a series of thematic workshops organized by NITI Aayog, aligned with action plans outlined in the NDLD 2023. Additional workshops covered diverse themes like Tourism, Digital Public Infrastructure, SDGs, the Indian Development Model, and more. These workshops collectively contribute to a forthcoming national workshop.
Key themes discussed:
- Relevance and unique dimensions of implementing G20 Principles of Harnessing Data for Development (D4D) in the Indian context
- Stakeholders responsible for harnessing and interpreting data, emphasizing the significance of inclusive development
- India’s role in pioneering balanced public data systems globally
- Transformation of digital data systems beyond traditional paper-based models
Topics explored during the workshop:
- Emerging data frameworks and their implications
- Challenges concerning data quality and reliability
- Potential issues arising from under and over reliance on data
- Promises and limitations of AI/ML tools in data interpretation
- The impact of new technologies on data management and analysis
Dr. Arvind Virmani, Member NITI Aayog spoke on data and their historical importance as well as gaps in aiding decisions and actions. He highlighted the importance of building robust data systems, incorporating ever-evolving data sources, and thinking about both data to decision as well as issues to data collection pathways.
S Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), followed with a discussion of the various efforts of the government to collect and use data, the challenges their of, and the influence of constantly changing technological landscape. He highlighted the complexities in balancing centralized data analysis vs. decentralized use, and making effective decisions while addressing privacy and cybersecurity concerns.
Dr. Ashutosh Ojha, DDG, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) discussed the specific concerns related to data and SDGs including the National Indicator Framework that is trying to address these issues.
Prominent Participation:
Representatives from more than twenty esteemed institutions, including the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Digital India Foundation, Center for Development Studies, Grant Thornton Bharat LLP, Pratham Infotech Foundation, FHM Engage, UN Women, UNDP, IT for Change, Digital Green, Indian Statistical Institute, Carnegie India, iSPIRT, Center for Communications Governance (NLU), and Reliance Foundation, contributed valuable insights to enrich the discussion.
