GSDP Overhaul: Experts Mandate Shift to 2022-23 Base Year to Capture India's Structural Economic Surge

The National Statistics Office (NSO) has kicked off a crucial All-India Workshop aimed at standardizing state-level economic accounting. The three-day event, focusing on State Income and Related Aggregates with the new 2022-23 base year, signals a major methodological overhaul for regional economic data.

The workshop convened officers from Directorates of Economics and Statistics (DES) across various States/UTs in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, from April 8th to 10th, 2026. The primary goal is to promote greater transparency, uniformity, and comparability across regional accounts statistics.

Realigning State Economics with the 2022-23 Benchmark​

The transition from the 2011-12 base year to 2022-23 is viewed by authorities as a necessary reassessment of the state economy. Shri Peeyush Kumar, Principal Secretary (Finance & Planning), Government of Andhra Pradesh, emphasized that this shift is pivotal for capturing structural changes within the economy.

He noted that the new series will provide a much stronger foundation for policy planning at both State and district levels. Furthermore, the revised focus on District Domestic Product (DDP) is seen as vital for developing a more realistic picture of the economy, particularly after bifurcation.

Strengthening Data Reliability Across Regional Accounts​

Discussions during the inaugural session heavily focused on enhancing data robustness across multiple dimensions. Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI, stressed the paramount importance of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). He highlighted GSDP’s role as a key metric governing states’ borrowing limits and the devolution of Central taxes.

To bolster data integrity, Dr. Garg urged increased utilization of administrative data sources. Specific examples cited include GST, e-Vahan, and PFMS data. The availability of GST data, for instance, allows for the preparation of expenditure-side estimates that can cross-validate figures derived from the production approach.

Integrating Sectoral Data for Comprehensive Economic Picture​

Beyond aggregate figures, experts underscored the need for deeper insights into localized and informal sector dynamics. Dr. Garg specifically pointed to the necessity of greater States' participation in surveys like ASUSE and PLFS. These inputs are crucial for generating reliable district-level estimates, especially concerning the informal sector.

Echoing this sentiment, Shri Siddhartha Kundu, Additional Director General (National Accounts Division), MoSPI, stressed that adopting the new base year is fundamental to ensuring national accounts remain relevant. He reaffirmed that the timely and accurate data provided by the States remains the cornerstone for the reliability of national aggregates.

Call for Cooperation in Implementing New GSDP Framework​

Leadership from the National Accounts Division repeatedly stressed the collaborative effort needed for this transition. Dr. Subhra Sarker, Deputy Director General (National Accounts Division), MoSPI, urged all DES officers to extend full cooperation. This is necessary to ensure the timely compilation and dissemination of GSDP estimates using the 2022-23 base year.

The workshop, attended by around 125 participants from MoSPI and 31 States/UTs, aimed to guide officers through these complex methodological changes. Shri B. Gopal, Director of DES Andhra Pradesh, concluded by expressing gratitude for the technical assistance provided by the NAD, acknowledging its capacity building role in managing the base year revision exercise.