Topic: “Statistical Sources” as Secondary Sources of Information | UGC NET LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE NOTES
Statistical Sources (as Secondary Sources of Information)
Definition
Statistical sources are secondary sources that present compiled, summarised, and interpreted numerical data collected from various primary sources such as censuses, surveys, and reports.
They provide quantitative information on social, economic, industrial, political, and scientific activities, generally in the form of tables, charts, and graphs.
(Source: IGNOU eGyanKosh – Unit 12, Information Sources and Services, BLI-222)
Types of Statistical Sources
1. Official Publications
(a) Census Reports
Origin: India’s first complete census was conducted in 1881 under British rule.
Frequency: Every 10 years.
Publisher: Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
First Indian Census Report Published: 1881 Census of India.
Latest: 2011 Census Report (2021 postponed due to COVID-19).
Contents: Population size, literacy, occupation, migration, housing, religion, language, etc.
Nature: Primary data compiled and published as national statistical reference, thus used as a secondary source for research and planning.
(b) National Sample Survey (NSS) Reports
Initiated: 1950.
Founder Organization: National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) (now merged into NSO – National Statistical Office).
Parent Organization: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India.
Frequency: Periodic (each round covering specific topics such as consumer expenditure, employment, education, health, etc.).
Publication Title: National Sample Survey Reports / NSS Reports.
Features: Provides sample-based statistical data for socioeconomic research.
(c) Economic Survey of India
Initiated: 1950-51 (first edition).
Publisher: Department of economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
Frequency: Annual, released before the Union Budget each year.
Contents: Statistical data on national income, agriculture, industry, prices, employment, foreign trade, and economic growth.
Country: India.
(d) Statistical Abstract of India
Launched: 1953.
Publisher: Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), now part of National Statistical Office (NSO) under MoSPI.
Frequency: Annual.
Content: Consolidated statistics from central and state governments, covering population, industry, trade, finance, health, and education.
(e) Statistical Year Book of India
Initiated: 1954 (as continuation of Statistical Abstract).
Publisher: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
Frequency: Annual.
Format: Tabular presentation with time-series data on multiple sectors.
Current Edition: Published online annually through www.mospi.gov.in
2. International Statistical Sources
(a) United Nations Statistical Yearbook
Launched: 1948.
Publisher: United Nations Statistical Office, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).
Frequency: Annual.
Country/Origin: United States (UN Headquarters, New York)
Contents: International statistics on population, trade, transport, national accounts, energy, and environment.
Availability: Both in print and digital (through UN Data portal).
(b) UNESCO Statistical Yearbook
Launched: 1963.
Publisher: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Paris.
Frequency: Annual (ceased in 1999, replaced by electronic database).
Current Successor: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) — uis.unesco.org.
Contents: Education, science, culture, and communication statistics from member nations.
(c) OECD Statistical Compendium
Initiated: 1962.
Publisher: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris.
Frequency: Annual / Periodic datasets online.
Products: OECD.Stat, OECD Factbook, Main Economic Indicators.
Contents: Global and regional statistics on economics, education, environment, and social indicators.
(d) IMF International Financial Statistics (IFS)
Started: 1948.
Publisher: International Monetary Fund (IMF), Washington D.C.
Frequency: Monthly (print ceased 2019, now digital)
Contents: Global statistics on exchange rates, balance of payments, GDP, and international reserves.
(e) World Bank – World Development Indicators (WDI)
Introduced: 1978 (as World Tables).
Renamed: World Development Indicators in 1997.
Publisher: The World Bank Group, Washington D.C.
Frequency: Annual (online database updated quarterly).
Contents: Development data on more than 200 countries including GDP, education, health, and environment.
Website: data.worldbank.org.
3. Semi-Official and Private Statistical Sources
(a) Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – Handbook of Statistics on the Indian Economy
First Edition: 1998-99.
Publisher: Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Mumbai.
Frequency: Annual.
Contents: Data on national income, banking, prices, government finance, external trade, balance of payments, and money supply.
Available: www.rbi.org.in.
(b) CMIE – Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy
Founded: 1976.
Products: Economic Outlook, CapEx, ProwessIQ, Consumer Pyramids Data.
Nature: Private statistical service organisation providing economic and business data.
Frequency: Updated monthly/quarterly depending on product.
Headquarters: Mumbai, India.
(c) IndiaStat Database
Launched: 2000.
Parent Organisation: Datanet India Pvt. Ltd.
Type: Web-based statistical database.
Coverage: Over 100 sectors including agriculture, economy, education, health, and infrastructure.
Update Frequency: Monthly/Quarterly.
Website: www.indiastat.com.
4. Specialised Statistical Sources
(a) Library Statistics of India
Initiated by: Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation (RRRLF) under Ministry of Culture.
First Published: 1989.
Frequency: Annual.
Contents: Number of libraries, readership, state-wise distribution, grants, and services statistics.
(b) UNESCO Public Library Statistics (World List of National and International Statistical Publications)
Origin: 1975.
Publisher: UNESCO / FID (International Federation for Information and Documentation).
Contents: Comparative library development statistics across countries.
(c) INFLIBNET Annual Reports (Statistical Sections)
Initiated: 1991.
Publisher: Information and Library Network Centre (INFLIBNET), UGC.
Frequency: Annual.
Contents: Statistical summaries of library automation, digital repositories, and institutional growth.
5. Commercial and Online Statistical Databases
(a) Statista
Founded: 2007.
Headquarters: Hamburg, Germany.
Type: Commercial online statistics portal.
Coverage: Over 80,000 topics from more than 22,000 sources.
Frequency: Continuously updated.
Website: www.statista.com.
(b) Eurostat
Founded: 1953.
Parent Organisation: European Commission, Luxembourg.
Frequency: Monthly / Quarterly datasets.
Contents: Economic, demographic, and social statistics for EU member states.
Website: ec.europa.eu/eurostat.
(c) National Data Sharing and Accessibility Policy (NDSAP) – Open Government Data Platform India
Launched: 2012.
Managed by: National Informatics Centre (NIC) under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Website: data.gov.in.
Features: Open access datasets from government departments — population, transport, agriculture, and finance.