MPs Sound Alarm Over MoSPI Staff Deficit, Demand Urgent Hiring Drive

India’s Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has come under sharp scrutiny from a key Parliamentary Committee, which has flagged a “severe manpower shortage” across its central departments and field offices. In a strongly worded report presented this week, the committee urged the ministry to fill at least 50% of its vacant posts by the end of the current financial year.

The committee noted that the persistent shortfall in staffing has significantly hindered the Ministry’s core functions, including the timely collection, compilation, and dissemination of crucial national data. It warned that continued neglect of recruitment could lead to further erosion of data credibility, undermine policy-making, and delay developmental planning.

A Grim Snapshot of the Vacancies

The report reveals startling figures. As of March 2025, more than 6,000 posts out of an approved strength of around 12,000 remain vacant in various MoSPI divisions, including:

• National Statistical Office (NSO)

• Central Statistical Office (CSO)

• Field Operations Divisions

• Infrastructure and Project Monitoring Wings

The vacancy rate stands at nearly 50%, with the majority of the unfilled positions being at the junior statistical officer (JSO), assistant, and field investigator levels — roles critical for nationwide data collection and real-time monitoring.

The committee stressed that while digitisation has brought some relief, manpower remains irreplaceable for ensuring the authenticity, coverage, and integrity of statistical surveys and reports.

Repeated Warnings Ignored, Say Lawmakers

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by MP Jayant Sinha, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the Ministry’s response to past recommendations. The report mentioned that similar observations had been made over the last three consecutive years, but “little meaningful progress” was seen on the ground.

“Despite repeated recommendations and reminders, the Ministry has failed to put in place a time-bound recruitment roadmap. It is unfortunate that data quality and national planning are being compromised due to systemic apathy,” the report stated.

Lawmakers demanded an urgent revival of recruitment drives, particularly for posts that directly impact national-level surveys such as the Consumer Expenditure Survey, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), and Economic Census.

Impact on National Projects and Data Quality

The shortage of trained statistical personnel is not just an administrative issue — it is directly impacting national governance, the committee noted. Ministries across the board depend on MoSPI data for budget allocations, programme evaluation, and economic forecasting.

Officials revealed that:

• PLFS timelines have slipped due to a lack of field enumerators in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh.

• Data validation for national infrastructure projects has slowed, affecting cost estimations and milestone tracking.

• Surveys on vital sectors such as agriculture, education, health, and household consumption are relying more on contracted third-party agencies, which raises questions about standardisation and control.

The committee voiced concern that data gaps and delays may erode public trust and undermine India’s reputation in global data indices.

Technology Alone Can’t Fix the Issue

While MoSPI has been promoting digitised systems and AI-led survey tools to reduce manpower dependency, experts and lawmakers agree that technology is not a substitute for qualified human resources.

An internal audit cited in the report showed that automation has improved efficiency only in upper-level analysis, but not at the primary data collection stage, where field-level insight, local language skills, and social context remain vital.

“In remote villages, tribal belts, or urban slums, you cannot just rely on mobile apps and GPS. You need trained staff who understand ground realities,” said a senior official who testified before the committee.

Committee’s Key Recommendations

The report lays out a clear set of recommendations for MoSPI to follow:

1. Fill at least 50% of the current vacancies by December 2025, beginning with high-priority statistical roles.

2. Reinstate annual recruitment drives through UPSC and SSC with revised qualification criteria to match modern skill sets.

3. Strengthen training programs at National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA) to prepare newly inducted officers quickly.

4. Allocate budget provisions exclusively for human resource augmentation, separate from infrastructure and IT spends.

5. Increase contractual staff accountability, ensuring external surveyors are held to the same standards as full-time MoSPI officers.

Ministry’s Response and Way Forward

In its preliminary response, MoSPI acknowledged the challenges posed by the pandemic and procedural delays in recruitment. Officials also cited dependency on UPSC and SSC pipelines, which are often slowed due to administrative backlogs.

However, under the push from the Committee, the Ministry is said to be preparing a revised recruitment strategy to be presented in the upcoming session of Parliament. A senior MoSPI official hinted at a special hiring campaign for field-level roles, possibly in collaboration with state statistical agencies.

Some insiders also floated the idea of a central statistical recruitment board, modeled after the Railway Recruitment Board, to expedite appointments in the future.

Expert Views: A Data Emergency in the Making?

Academicians and economists welcomed the committee's move, calling it long overdue.

Dr. Reetika Sharma, professor of statistical economics at Delhi University, said:

“A country as vast and diverse as India cannot afford to run its entire data machinery on half its staff. The ministry’s weakness affects everything — GDP estimates, inflation tracking, and social welfare metrics. It’s time for serious reform.”

Others called for rethinking how statistical services are structured — with faster hiring cycles, competitive pay, and performance-based progression to attract young talent into the government sector.

 Numbers Don’t Lie — But Missing People Might

In a world where data drives governance, India’s statistics ministry cannot afford to be understaffed. The Parliamentary Committee’s blunt warning is a reflection of mounting concern in the corridors of power. Unless MoSPI acts now, the country risks flying blind in its most critical policy areas.

As the committee awaits a formal action plan from the Ministry, all eyes will be on the government’s next move. For a nation of over 1.4 billion people, the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of data cannot be left to chance — or to an empty chair.