The National Statistical Office (NSO), India, in collaboration with the Innovation Cell of the Ministry of Education (MoE), has launched a Grand Challenge titled “Statathon – A Data Journey Towards Viksit Bharat”. The Grand Challenge is a national-level competition designed to harness emerging technologies and innovative solutions to transform the landscape of official statistics in India. Organised under the aegis of MoSPI’s Data Innovation Lab (DI Lab) initiative, the Statathon marks an important milestone in the commemoration of 75 years of the National Sample Survey (NSS). The challenge invites participation to address five problem statements, each covering different phases of the data lifecycle: collection, processing & analysis, and dissemination. Through this initiative, NSO aims to explore the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other frontier technologies to enhance the efficiency, quality, and accessibility of statistical data systems.
Grand Challenges are opportunities for students and startups to contribute to problem-solving across sectors by participating and providing new ideas, and developing new solutions to the problems posed. This platform gives direct access to different ministries and corporations to practice open innovation and get access to the best talent available in the country. At the same time, it offers an opportunity for experiential learning and nurturing innovations to students across academia in India.
