Patna: A two-day national workshop on sustainable development data systems, environmental accounting and gender statistics was inaugurated in Patna on Wednesday, marking a first for Bihar and bringing together representatives from around 20 states and Union territories.
The event, organised by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) in collaboration with Bihar’s planning and development department, with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), seeks to strengthen the monitoring framework for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enhance the statistical capacity of states.
Officials said the workshop aims to improve the tracking of SDG indicators through better data quality, identification of gaps, and integration of administrative and survey-based systems to support evidence-based policymaking.
Addressing the inaugural session, Bihar’s planning and development minister, Bijendra Prasad Yadav, said accurate and timely data were essential for achieving the SDGs and making governance more outcome-oriented. Chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit echoed the importance of robust data systems, noting that inclusive development depends on reaching the “last mile”.
Dr Saurabh Garg, secretary at MoSPI, emphasised the need for stronger statistical systems and inter-state collaboration to improve SDG monitoring, while Dr N Vijayalakshmi, additional chief secretary of Bihar’s planning department, highlighted the state’s efforts to localise SDGs down to the district level.
The workshop places particular emphasis on environmental or “green” accounting, aimed at assessing the use and sustainability of natural resources, alongside strengthening gender statistics to better capture disparities and inform inclusive policy design.
Dr Angela Lusigi, UNDP India’s resident representative, said that achieving the SDGs required a convergence of data, partnerships and innovation, adding that improved systems in areas such as environmental accounting and gender data would help ensure equitable and sustainable development.
Technical sessions during the workshop include discussions on SDG indicator tracking, data validation, environmental accounting, gender statistics and the sharing of best practices among participating states.
Officials said the initiative reflects Bihar’s growing institutional capacity in data governance and is expected to deepen collaboration between states while advancing India’s progress towards the SDGs.
