A Commission set up by the government in January 2000 and the chairmanship of Dr. C. Rangarajan reviewed the statistical system and the entire gamut of official statistics in the country. The Rangarajan Commission submitted its report to the government in August 2001. One of the key Recommendation of this Commission was to establish a permanent National Commission on a statistic to serve as a nodal and empowered body for all the core statistics activities of the country, evolve, monitor and enforce statistical priorities and Standards and to ensure statistical co-ordination among the different Agencies involved. The Rangarajan Commission also recommended that the commission be set up initial through a government order.
Through the Government of India resolution of 1st June 2005, Government has set up a Commission, namely, the national statistical Commission(NSC) comprising.
- A part-time chairman who will be an eminent statistician or social scientist.
- Four part time member one each from the following field of specialisation and experience in Economics statistics in such areas as agriculture, industry, infrastructure, trade or finance.
- social and environment statistic in such area as population, health, education, labour and Employment or environment.
- statistical operation in such area as census, surveys, statistical information system all information technology.
- National accounts, statistical modelling or state statistical systems.
- The secretary, Planning Commission as ex officio member.
- The secretary, Ministry of statistics and programme implementation to function as ex officio member Secretary of the commission till the chief statistician of India assumes office. The chief statistician of India, the post created especially as the head of the national statistical office will be Secretary of the statutory Commission.
