The Sampling and Official Statistics Unit (SOSU) of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) was established in 2012 with the objective of promoting research, teaching, training, and capacity building in the field of official statistics. Its formation was inspired by the vision of Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, the founder of ISI, who recognied the importance of statistics in evidence-based policymaking and interdisciplinary research.

SOSU serves as a platform that brings together the academic expertise of ISI scientists and the practical experience of official statisticians. The unit focuses particularly on methodological issues related to the Indian official statistical system, data collection, statistical analysis, and policy evaluation. Through this academic–government collaboration, SOSU aims to address emerging challenges in the production and use of reliable statistical information for public policy.

Since its establishment, SOSU has made significant contributions through demand-driven research projects, specialised training programmes, workshops, and capacity-building initiatives. Government departments and major public institutions, including the Reserve Bank of India, have regularly engaged with the Unit for training and professional development. Research undertaken by SOSU has also contributed to discussions on improving existing data-collection methodologies and strengthening official statistical practices.

A major strength of SOSU is its interdisciplinary approach. With the rapid development of information & communication technologies and increasing computational capabilities, the unit recognises the growing need for high-quality data, appropriate statistical methodologies, and rigorous tools for policy analysis and causal inference. The unit therefore encourages collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and experienced official statisticians to develop practical and scientifically sound solutions to contemporary policy challenges.

SOSU also contributes to the dissemination of statistical knowledge beyond major academic centres. It has organised training programmes and workshops in the North-Eastern region of India, often in collaboration with local institutions, with the aim of strengthening capacity in official statistics and statistical research. In addition, scientists associated with the unit have contributed to the development and improvement of official statistical systems in other developing countries.

Overall, the Sampling and Official Statistics Unit represents an important link between statistical theory, official data, and public policy. By combining academic research with practical governmental needs, SOSU seeks to strengthen the quality and relevance of official statistics while promoting specialized interdisciplinary research. Its continuing engagement with government institutions, researchers, and young statisticians reflects ISI's broader commitment to using statistics as a powerful instrument for informed decision-making and national development.

In today’s world policy makers (Private and Govt) largely aspire for evidence-based policymaking. In practice, there is a large dependence on the data available in the public domain or data collected through surveys from time to time. The challenge remains to identify reliable data to enable meaningful data analysis. In this context, the huge data collected by Governments (often called official data) at the national and subnational levels comes under focus. The leading academic Institutions of the world have undertaken very limited attempts to facilitate broad based discussion on various aspects of official data and Official Statistics generated out of this. Neither, the use/potential use of such data for policymaking has been widely explored.

Under this backdrop, effective dialogue between Official Statisticians, Policy makers and Academicians (including Policy Researchers) is desired to introspect methodologies of data collection, validation, applicability etc. India having a rich heritage of maintaining official database may be considered as the basis for such dialogue.

Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) being an Institute of national importance of international repute since its inception has been contributing immensely to the growth and development of Indian Official Statistics in various ways. As is well known, the founder of the Institute, Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis made fundamental contribution in the field of Indian Official Statistics and paved the way to venture into new frontiers which in- turn facilitated policy making in a more efficient manner.

To carry forward such a trend in a more time-relevant manner and facilitate regular and effective interaction between academicians of ISI and Official Statisticians of Government of India and policy makers, an Official Statistics conclave has been planned during 3-4 November, 2026. The event will be organized by Sampling and Official Statistics Unit (SOSU), ISI, Kolkata considering the work undertaken in the domain of Official Statistics and Policy.

While the academicians of ISI would be expected to disseminate the Theoretical and Applied research relevant in the domain of Indian Official Statistics, the Official Statisticians on the other hand would throw light on the challenges faced and solution solicited. The policy makers in turn would share their experiences on data driven policy making. Thus, it is expected that the event would be one step forward to foster Academician-Government Official-Policy maker synergy and devise appropriate demand driven mechanisms for problem solving to ensure growth and development of Indian Official Statistical System

Important Dates