Pre-conference symposium examines data systems and research methods; inaugural session brings together leading academics and policymakers

By Ganesh Upadhyay, Senior Journalist

Rajgir, Nalanda, Bihar | Sunday, 25 October 2026:

Nalanda University is hosting the 25th Annual Conference of the Indian Association of Social Science Institutions (IASSI), bringing together scholars, researchers and policymakers to deliberate on contemporary issues in social sciences and development. The programme commenced today with a pre-conference symposium, ahead of the main conference proceedings scheduled from 26 to 28 October 2026.

Symposium on Databases and Research Tools Highlights Emerging Trends and Issues

The symposium on “Databases and Research Tools – Emerging Trends and Issues”, held at the University’s Vishwamitralaya Auditorium, highlighted the importance of reliable data, rigorous research methods and evidence-based policymaking.

Shri Saurabh Garg, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, who chaired the symposium, highlighted the expanding range of data sources, including administrative records, mobile data, e-commerce and geospatial information, and their growing importance for governance and research.

Professor Ravindra H. Dholakia, former Professor at IIM Ahmedabad, emphasised that credible economic research requires sound theoretical foundations, reliable data and rigorous methodology. He cautioned that poorly processed data and inappropriate econometric techniques can produce misleading results.

Dr. S. Madheswaran, Adviser at Jain University and former Director of ISEC, Bengaluru, stressed the need to transform India’s statistical resources into development intelligence that explains challenges and supports effective policy interventions.

Professor S. K. Mohanty of Nalanda University highlighted gaps in India’s trade data and called for a comprehensive, accessible trade database to strengthen export competitiveness, track MSME participation and improve trade policymaking. He also highlighted the University’s Informatics Data Center and its contribution to specialised research databases.

Professor G. C. Manna of the Institute for Human Development, New Delhi, participated in the symposium’s discussions on databases and research tools, contributing to the broader dialogue on strengthening India’s statistical and research ecosystem.

Professor Udaya Shankar Mishra, Professor and Head at the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, emphasised the importance of appropriate indicators, standardised comparisons and confidence intervals in interpreting statistical estimates. He highlighted the need to account for differences in populations and measurement when comparing development outcomes, including health indicators and multidimensional deprivation.

The symposium underscored the need to improve data quality, comparability and accessibility, alongside methodological rigour, to generate credible evidence and support informed policymaking.

Inaugural Session

The symposium was followed by the formal inauguration of the 25th IASSI Annual Conference, marked by the traditional lighting of the lamp.

The inaugural session featured the welcome and opening address by Professor Sachin Chaturvedi, Chairman, IASSI and Vice-Chancellor, Nalanda University. This was followed by an introduction to IASSI by Professor Alok Kumar Mishra, Member Secretary, IASSI; remarks by Professor Ram Singh, President of the 25th IASSI Annual Conference and Director, Delhi School of Economics; and an address by Professor Dhananjay Singh, Member-Secretary, Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi.

Professor S. Mahendra Dev, Chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM), was the Chief Guest and delivered the inaugural address on “Indian Knowledge System in the Evolving Social Sciences.” The session also featured the release of Public Finance for Cities: The Benefit Principles from Wicksell to Stiglitz, authored by Shibani Mishra and Alok Kumar Mishra and published by Oxford University Press.

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