Why in news?
- Recently cabinet approved the merger of CSO and NSSO into National Statistics Office.
- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation approved merging of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) into a single statistics wing, which will be known as the National Statistical Office (NSO).
- The NSO would be headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. A committee will be constituted to recommend the operational steps required
- For the merger. Note that a proposal to create the NSO by merging the NSSO and CSO had been made earlier in July 2005.
- Currently, the CSO, an attached office of the Ministry, coordinates statistical activities in the country and evolves statistical standards. The NSSO, a subordinate office (field agency) under the Ministry, conducts large scale sample surveys across diverse fields on an all India basis and publishes the results.
- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation comprises of
- The Statistics wing (National Statistical Organisation), and
- The Programme Implementation wing.
- The National Statistical Organisation consists of Central Statistics Office (CSO), and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).