RAS question
India's GDP is measured by which organization?
Correct answer: (C) National Statistical Office (NSO).
India's GDP estimates are prepared by the National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
Explanation
India's GDP is measured through estimates prepared by the National Statistical Office (NSO), which works under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). MoSPI's press release names NSO, MoSPI as the authority releasing the Provisional Estimates of annual GDP and the quarterly GDP estimates, so NSO is the organisation tied directly to official GDP estimation. NSO was formed in 2019 by merging the Central Statistics Office and the National Sample Survey Office. The present GDP series uses 2011-12 as the base year, which is why RAS questions often test both the agency and the base-year fact together.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) RBI deals with monetary and financial data, while official GDP estimates are prepared by the National Statistical Office under MoSPI.
- (B) NITI Aayog is a policy think tank, not the statistical office responsible for preparing India's GDP estimates.
- (D) The Ministry of Commerce is not responsible for preparing India's GDP estimates; GDP estimates are linked to NSO under MoSPI.
Concept
National income accounting in Indian Economy includes the agency responsible for official GDP estimates and its parent ministry. RAS frequently combines agency and base-year facts within broader GDP and national accounts topics.