Students' Activity

Report on Skill Enhancement (Data Analysis) Course for UG Economics Students

Conducted by Bureau of Applied Economics and Statistics,

Government of West Bengal

The UG Economics Programme of University of Calcutta offers the students of 3rd Semester to choose data analysis as Skill Enhancement Course. The unit helps the students to improve their analytical skills on the subject. The unit facilitates the students to apply the theories of statistics in practice. At the end of the course the students gather profound knowledge on how Indian Statistical Offices (CSO,NSSO,RBI) collect and disseminate data on important economic variables like GNP,GDP, Price, Money Aggregates, Consumer Expenditure, Employment and Unemployment, Census, etc.

To facilitate better understanding of the course, the department integrated its students with Bureau of Applied Economics and Statistics (B.A.E&S), Government of West Bengal learn management of government official statistics from government experts.

BAES, Govt. of WB arranged for a two-day programme for the students on 12.09.2019 and 13.09.2019 at their office premises.

On day 1, theoretical lectures were given to students by the officials. The first session started with lecture on methodology of computing National Accounts Statistics (NAS). The following session elaborated the procedures of calculating Industrial Statistics. In the post lunch session, the methodology of Household consumption expenditure survey and Employment-unemployment survey rounds of NSSO was oriented.

Lecture on National Accounts Statistics (NAS) by Mr. Rudra Prasad Roy, Assistant Director, B.A.E&S, Govt. of WB

On day 2, students were taken for on field experiences of collecting data. Students were briefed the techniques of conducting Household consumer by NSSO. The students accompanied BAES Inspector to the on-field survey. The survey venue was Ramkrishna Mission Ashram Blind School. On this survey students learnt how to select data units by method of random sampling. Techniques of interviewing the respondents was also taught.

Briefing of Respondent Interview by Mr. Avijit Mondal, Inspector, B.A.E&S, Govt. of WB

In conclusion, this initiative offered exposure to students to government official statistics handling and compilation methods.