Workshop in Visakhapatnam on New State Income Base Year

A three-day workshop on state income and related aggregates using the new base year 2022–23 began here on Wednesday. The event is for officers of the Directorates of Economics and Statistics (DES) of States and Union Territories.

The National Accounts Division of the National Statistics Office, under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, is organising the workshop. Its goal is to familiarise officials with methodological updates and promote uniformity, transparency, and comparability in regional accounts.

MoSPI Secretary Saurabh Garg, the chief guest, stressed the importance of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). He explained that GSDP is crucial for deciding states’ borrowing limits and the devolution of central taxes. He also noted that GST data helps prepare expenditure-side estimates, which can cross-check production-based calculations. This strengthens the overall reliability of state accounts.

Moreover, Mr. Garg urged states to actively participate in surveys such as the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) and the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). He highlighted that such participation ensures accurate district-level data, especially for the informal sector. Referring to ‘Sadhana Saptah 2026’ under Mission Karmayogi, he emphasized the role of data-driven governance.

Principal Secretary (Finance & Planning) Peeyush Kumar said the shift in the base year from 2011–12 to 2022–23 captures structural changes in the economy. He added that District Domestic Product (DDP) provides insights into district-level economic patterns. Consequently, the revised series will give a more realistic view of Andhra Pradesh’s economy after bifurcation.

Siddhartha Kundu, Additional Director General of the National Accounts Division, noted that adopting the new base year ensures national accounts remain relevant. He stressed that accurate and timely state-level data is vital for the credibility of national aggregates.

Other speakers included Subhra Sarker, Deputy Director General of NAD; B. Gopal, Director of DES; and Subba Rao, Deputy Director of DES. Around 125 officials from MoSPI and 31 States and UTs are attending the workshop, which will continue until April 10.