FM Sitharaman to Unveil NITI-NCAER State Finances Portal on April 1

NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), has developed a comprehensive digital repository that integrates key data on social, economic, and fiscal indicators. Spanning nearly 30 years (from the financial years 1990-91 to 2022-23), the portal is set to be launched on April 1 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (Photo: PTI)

The NITI NCAER States Economic Forum portal also includes research reports, analytical papers, and expert insights on state finances.

According to a press release by NITI Aayog, this initiative aims to improve data accessibility and offer valuable insights into India's economic landscape at the state level.

Key features

The portal is built on four key components:

1. State Reports – Offering a comprehensive overview of the macroeconomic and fiscal landscape across 28 Indian states, these reports highlight key indicators related to demographics, economic structure, socio-economic parameters, and fiscal performance.

2. Data Repository – A structured database providing direct access to extensive datasets across five categories: demography, economic structure, fiscal, health, and education.

3. State Fiscal and Economic Dashboard – A visual interface that showcases graphical trends of key economic variables over time. It also allows quick access to raw data through summary tables and a detailed data appendix.

4. Research and Commentary – This section presents in-depth analyses of state finances, fiscal policies, and financial management at both state and national levels, offering expert insights and policy recommendations.

Enhancing data-driven decision-making

The portal is strategically developed as a comprehensive resource for policymakers, researchers, and analysts, offering enhanced insights into macroeconomic, fiscal, demographic, and socio-economic trends, thereby facilitating a more profound understanding of these critical areas. "It will further help in benchmarking the data of each state against that of other States and the national figures. It will also provide a forum to policymakers, researchers, and others interested in alluding to the data for informed debates and discussions," the press release said.

The portal acts as a "comprehensive research hub," enabling users to monitor historical trends, recognize emerging economic patterns, and develop evidence-based policies.

"By leveraging historical trends and real-time analytics, users will be able to track progress, identify emerging patterns, and formulate evidence-based policies for development," the press release said.

(This Article was originally published by Business Standard)