India joins UN panel on data for official statistics

Sub: IR

Sec: Int Org

Context:

India has joined the UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics (UN CEBD). This was announced by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
As part of the committee, India will contribute to shaping global standards and practices in harnessing Big Data and data science for official statistical purposes.

About UN-CEBD:

The UN-CEBD was established in 2014 under the UN Statistical Commission.
The committee was created to investigate the benefits and challenges of Big Data, including.
The committee provides strategic vision, direction, and coordination for a global program on big data and data science, focusing on their use in official statistics and monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UN Statistical Commission:

The United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) was established in 1946 by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
It is the highest decision-making body for international statistical activities, responsible for setting of statistical standards and the development of concepts and methods, including their implementation at the national and international level.
The Commission consists of 24 membercountries of the United Nations elected by the United Nations Economic and Social Council based on an equitable geographical distribution.

What is Big Data:

Big Data refers to extremely large and complex datasets that cannot be easily managed, processed, or analysed using traditional data management tools and techniques.
It is characterized by the 3Vs:
Volume: Massive amounts of data generated from various sources like social media, sensors, transactions, etc.
Velocity: High-speed data generation and processing.
Variety: Diverse data formats such as structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data.
Additional dimensions often include Veracity (data reliability) and Value (insights derived from data).