MoSPI and Thapar Institute Partner to Develop AI-Based Household Consumption Framework

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (TIET) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 31 August 2026 for a research study focused on monthly consumption expenditure in India. The collaboration aims to develop a Predictive and Analytical Framework for Monthly Consumption Expenditures by using household-consumption survey data and advanced analytical techniques. Main Objective The research will use data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) to better understand household spending patterns in India. The study will focus on: Estimating Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) Producing estimates at national and state levels Analysing household consumption patterns Supporting poverty estimation Providing evidence for economic planning and policymaking HCES and MPCE HCES – Household Consumption Expenditure Survey Measures household consumption and spending patterns. Helps understand how families spend on different goods and services. MPCE – Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure Measures average monthly consumption expenditure per person. It is an important indicator for analysing household living standards. National-Level Estimates Show consumption expenditure patterns across India. Help assess overall economic conditions and consumption trends. State-Level Estimates Show consumption patterns for individual states. Help compare differences in expenditure and living standards across states. Role of Artificial Intelligence An important aspect of the project is the use of Artificial Intelligence in official statistics . AI and advanced analytical methods can help researchers identify patterns in large datasets and develop more frequent estimates of household consumption expenditure. This can strengthen data-driven decision-making and improve the availability of economic information for policymakers. MoU Signing The agreement was signed by: Prof. Padmakumar Nair — Vice Chancellor, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology R. Rajesh — Additional Director General, Capacity Development Division, MoSPI Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI , was present during the signing ceremony. Importance for Economic Planning Household consumption is one of the important indicators used to understand people's economic well-being. Reliable consumption data can help authorities assess: Household spending behaviour Living standards Consumption differences across states Poverty trends Economic development patterns The project can therefore support better evidence-based economic planning and policymaking. Government–Academic Research Collaboration The partnership also reflects increasing cooperation between government institutions and academic organisations. By combining official statistical datasets with academic research expertise and AI-based analytical tools, such collaborations can improve the quality and usefulness of India's statistical systems.