F-23015/41/2024-PIMD-Part(3) (Comp No. 74383)
भारत सरकार/Government of India
सांख्यिकी और कार्यक्रम कार्यान्वयन मंत्रालय/Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
राष्ट्रीय सांख्यिकी कार्यालय/National Statistics Office (NSO)
(प्रशासनिक सांख्यिकी एवं नीति प्रभाग /Administrative Statistics and Policy Division)

$$
\begin{aligned}
& \text { ख़ुर्थादि तात्त भवन, /Khurshid Lal Bhawan } \
& \text { जनपथ, नई दिल्ली/ Janpath, New Delhi – } 110001 \
& \text { दिनांक/ Dated: } 11^{\text {th }} \text { April, } 2025
\end{aligned}
$$

Office Memorandum

Subject: Statistical Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) for the products and processes produced by the Central Ministries/ Departments/State/ UT Governments

Fueled by technological advancements and increased demands for detailed and timely data for policy-making, various new data sources have emerged in recent years. The new data ecosystem poses several challenges and opportunities for official statistics. Quality of produced data/statistics is one such challenge. To address the issue, a need for a Statistical Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF) that aims to address quality dimensions of data in different circumstances and situations can hardly be overemphasized.
2. Based on the UN National Quality Assurance Framework (NQAF) 2019, Ministry of Statistics \& Programme implementation (MoSPI), has developed a Statistical Quality Assessment Framework (SQAF). The SQAF aims to bring in improvement in the National Statistical System by laying down quality parameters and corresponding good practices for statistical processes and products.
3. The SQAF provides a comprehensive framework covering possible aspects of the coordination of the statistical system, the legal support and provisions, laying down roles and responsibilities of various constituent agencies of the statistical system, and the institutional arrangements and mechanisms to ensure adherence to various Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics covering the environment and the statistical processes involved in the generation of Official Statistics.
4. The SQAF was circulated amongst the Department of School Education \& Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME), Government of India, Government of Odisha and Government of Rajasthan, for taking up the self-assessment of some of the products generated by them and providing their comments. Based on the observations of the DoSEL, MSME, and the Governments of Odisha and Rajasthan, the SQAF has been updated.

1. The Ministries/Departments, and State/UT Governments are required to assess all their data/statistical products and processes generated by them initially within three months of the issue of this OM. The assessment may be done at the requirement level by reporting as “Full Compliance” (Score-1), or “Partial Compliance” (Score-0.5), or “No Compliance (Score-0). Thereafter, the SQAF exercise for their all products may be taken up every year in the month of January. The assessment of the products and processes on SQAF, may be used by the Ministries/Departments, and State/UT Governments, for making improvements in the processes leading to improved quality parameters of the data and official statistics in India. A copy of the assessment exercise may be shared with the MoSPI at email pimd-coord@mospi.gov.in for records.
2. The SQAF assessment kit (assessment kit) and the SQAF Guidelines (guidelines), including their updated version, whenever revised, would be available in public domain at https://www.mospi.gov.in/. The Ministries/Departments, and State/UT Governments may also download the assessment kit and the guidelines from the aforementioned website for their usages.
3. The Administrative Statistics and Policy Division (ASPD) in MoSPI (email pimdcoord@mospi.gov.in; telephone- 011-23455610) may be contacted for any clarification in the matter.
4. This issues with the approval of competent authority.

Encl:

1. SQAF assessment kit
2. SQAF Guidelines
   
3. Secretaries of the Ministries/Departments
4. Chief Secretaries of the State/UT Governments
   (As per the standard list)