NCAER - NATIONAL DATA INNOVATION CENTRE
NCAER’s National Data Innovation Center hosted the book release ceremony of “India’s Social and Economic Transformation in the 21st Century,” a collected volume of papers using data from the Indian Human Development Survey, edited by Pallavi Choudhuri, Sonalde Desai, and Amaresh Dubey, and published by Routledge.
The event commenced with an insightful panel discussion themed “Data for Development: Assessing Human Development in a Rapidly Changing Society,” where the editors and distinguished speakers embarked on a deep exploration of the challenges and opportunities stemming from India’s rapid transformations.
The 21st century has witnessed remarkable global advancements in educational expansion and economic growth. However, persistent social inequalities, that weigh down some of these achievements, require urgent attention. Furthermore, external factors such as the pandemic, global financial issues, and climate change emphasize the necessity to reevaluate social safety nets to ensure resilience in the face of unforeseen challenges.
Chaired by Sonalde Desai of NCAER, the panel comprised esteemed speakers:
– Dean Joliffe, Lead Economist, DECDG, World Bank
– Pronab Sen, India’s First Chief Statistician
– Rukmini Banerji, Chief Executive Officer, Pratham
– Ashwini Deshpande, Professor of Economics, Ashoka University
– A. K. Shiva Kumar, Development Economist
The panel deliberated on identifying priority areas and formulating effective data collection strategies to drive an evidence-driven approach to policymaking. Their discourse provided actionable strategies to navigate the complexities of our evolving society, emphasizing the imperative for evidence-driven policymaking to address persistent social inequalities.
The ceremony culminated with the release of the book by our esteemed Guest of Honour, Shri Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, alongside the panelists and the authors.
