Modi govt’s aversion to data: A decade of missing numbers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BuhnZp7Dnc
The News Minute Data is essential for effective governance—it informs decisions, tracks progress, and holds authorities accountable. But what happens when the government stops sharing data? From census delays since 2011 to missing statistics on crime, education, health, and more, an IndiaSpend’s investigation reveals that 16 critical datasets and 9 Union ministry annual reports are delayed, some for years.
Inside Modi Govt’s War Room to Whitewash Global Indices https://www.reporters-collective.in/trc/inside-modi-govts-war-room-to-whitewash-global-indices The Reporters’ Collective investigation has revealed that it is part of a “whole-of-government approach” devised by the Prime Minister’s Office to closely monitor 30 global indices and reach out to agencies that publish the indices to convince them to change their parameters – what they measure – if India is doing badly in their reports, which it often does. he ministry responsible for tracking the index began compiling all such arguments and then triggered the lobbying machinery. The government gets in touch with the publishing agency to force them to “course correct”. For that it could use Indian missions abroad to talk to the publishers. Documents show the missions talked to publishers of Global Gender Gap Index, Democracy Index and Global Competitiveness Index.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/eiu-not-sharing-info-on-democracy-index-govt-101629050360548.html The Union government tried to engage with the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) headquartered in London, following the latter’s “Democracy Index” ranking of India that categorised India as a “flawed democracy”,
Critical Data Remain Elusive, As 2024 Comes To A Close https://www.indiaspend.com/data-gaps/critical-data-remain-elusive-as-2024-comes-to-a-close-936492
16 critical datasets are delayed, nine ministries are yet to release their annual reports and the Census is now three years overdue, affecting policy-making and weakening transparency
https://infogram.com/crucial-datasets-in-india-1h1749w3ymknq2z table of crucial dataset
Suspension of IIPS director sparks allegations of government interference in academic sphere https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/suspension-of-iips-director-ks-james-part-of-a-larger-pattern/article67205268.ece
Academics fear the suspension is part of a government plan to silence K.S. James, who resisted political pressure to manipulate data.