Overview

• At the 19th National Statistics Day on June 29, NSC chairman Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar formally urged the government to convene a stakeholder group to develop one unified statistical framework for mark normalisation and negative marking in recruitment and entrance exams.
• Diverse normalisation formulas used by different agencies in multi-session computer-based exams have fuelled protests by NEET and BPSC candidates and triggered legal challenges over fairness.
• The proposed forum will bring together examination bodies and statistical experts to ensure consistency, reduce litigation, and guarantee a level playing field for millions of candidates.
• MoSPI secretary Saurabh Garg announced plans to begin releasing quarterly data on the informal economy based on the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises, with a new 45-day timeline for report publication.
• The calls for a unified exam policy and accelerated data releases reflect a broader drive toward precision policymaking and greater transparency in government statistics.