Central Statistics Office

Central Statistics Office coordinates the statistical activities of the country and develops their standards. The Central Statistics Office is the government agency responsible for calculating national income in India. The old name of the Central Statistics Office is Central Statistics Organisation. The Central Statistics Organisation was established on 2 May 1951. P.C. Mahalanobis was the prominent leader of formation of the Central Statistics Organisation. The Central Statistics Office conducts the census for the planning and development activities of the government. The CSO's national income census helps in understanding the status of the jobs and sectors in which the people are engaged. This institution is headed by a Director General with the assistance of five Additional Directors General. The official publication of the CSO, the White Paper, was first published in 1956. The headquarters of the CSO is in New Delhi. The Central Statistics Office functions under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The main functions of the CSO are to prepare national and per capita income statistics, conduct economic census, and prepare consumer price index.

Functions of the Central Statistics Office

■ To compile and analyze statistical data.

■ To collect and organize statistical data in all sectors for use in planning activities.

■ To use statistical data to determine national income.

■ To conduct economic census

■ To prepare consumer price index

National Statistical Office

The National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) was established in 1950 to conduct large-scale sample surveys in India. The National Statistical Office (NSO) was established as a result of the merger of the CSO and the NSSO. According to the report of the Rangarajan Commission, the National Statistical Office came into existence in June 2005. The NSO will be headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). 

The NSO has four main components.

■ Survey Design and Research Division (SDRD)

■ Field Operations Division (FOD)

■ Data Processing Division (DPD)

■ Survey Coordination Division (SCD)

UPSC/PSC Questions

1. The official agency for measuring and calculating the national income of India is the Central Statistical Organization (CSO)

2. The Central Statistical Organization began its operations on - 2 May 1951

3. The CSO is currently known as - Central Statistical Office

4. The headquarters of the Central Statistical Office is - Delhi

5. The head of the Central Statistical Office is - Director General

6. The official bulletin of the Central Statistical Office, the White Paper, was first published in - 1956

7. The annual publication of the CSO on the energy sector of India is - Energy Statistics

8. The person who played a major role in the formation of the Central Statistical Organization was - P.C. Mahalanobis

9. 'Father of Indian Statistics' - P.C. Mahalanobis

10. Indian Statistics Day - June 29 (Mahalanobis's birthday)

11. Organization established to conduct large sample surveys in India - National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO)

12. Year NSSO was established - 1950

13. Government agency for calculating India's national income - Central Statistical Organization (CSO)

14. Year CSO was established - 1951

15. Organization established as a result of merger of CSO and NSSO - National Statistical Office (NSO)

16. Head of National Statistical Office - Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)

17. According to the report released by NSO in September 2020, the state with the highest literacy rate in India is - Kerala (second - Delhi)