Commerce Min begins inquiry into core sector data goof up

"We have started an internal exercise to find out the reasons of problems in the data. My officers are on the job," a ministry official said when asked about the reasons for lowering of core sector data for May to 3.8 per cent from 4.6 per cent. The official further said, "The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) should tell the reason behind the data issues."

However, an official in MoSPI said, "We take data from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) for Index of Industrial Production (IIP). I will find out when we start revising figures for the forthcoming IIP numbers". While DIPP, which is under the Commerce and Industry ministry, is responsible for dissemination of Wholesale Price Index and core sector data, MoSPI collects data for national income and releases the IIP figures.

Yesterday, in an afternoon statement, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said that the eight core sector industries recorded a growth of 4.6 per cent in May on the back of surge in cement and coal production. But within three hours, it was changed to 3.8 per cent. The growth in the cement sector, which showed 22.1 per cent expansion in May according to the first press statement, was later changed to 11.3 per cent.

The eight core industries - coal, crude oil, natural gas, fertilisers, petroleum refinery products, electricity, cement and finished steel - have a weight of 37.9 per cent in the IIP.