‘No decision on reconstitution of Planning Commission so far’

Asked when the government would reconstitute the commission, the minister said, ‘That is for the government to decide ... When it decides, they (government) will convey the decision.’

The appointment of Singh as Minister of State for Planning with independent charge had raised speculations that the government may not reconstitute the commission.

‘I have also heard it through media. I don't know that there is any substance in it really,’ Singh replied when asked about media reports apprehending government may not reconstitute the commission. The minister was speaking on the sidelines of 8th National Statistics Day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the Chairman of the Commission, which has been a headless institution after the resignation of Montek Singh Ahluwalia from the post of Deputy Chairman following the change of government last month. According to sources, the commission is actively involved in preparation of the budget and will soon have a new team.

The first General Budget of the Narendra Modi government is scheduled to be presented on 10 July.

Commission officials had discussed the Gross Budgetary Support or Plan expenditure proposal for the central ministries on Friday and Saturday.

Addressing on the occasion of 8th National Statistics Day, the minister said that statistics provide scientific tools to translate relevant data into information for effective policy making.

While addressing the young statisticians, National Statistical Commission Chairman Pronab Sen said that demand for statistics is going beyond economic and official data need to be generated in anthropology and sociology.

On this occasio, the national award in statistics instituted in honour of Professor P V Sukhatme was conferred to former Director General and Chief Executive Officer of National Sample Survey 

Office N S Sastry.