
National Data Innovation Centre (NDIC)
NCAER with its consortium partners, University of Maryland and University of Michigan, has recently set up a new National Data Innovation Centre (NDIC). The main objective of NCAER-NDIC is to serve as a laboratory for experiments in data collection, interfacing with partners in think tanks, Indian and international universities, and government. Initial funding for NDIC is provided by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Dr Sonalde Desai, Senior Fellow, NCAER and Professor, University of Maryland, is serving as its first director.
India’s rapid transformation in data-oriented research has led to a growing demand from researchers and policymakers for rapid, high-quality and policy-relevant data. Changing socio-economic conditions also necessitate rethinking of the kind of data that are collected, as also ways in which they are collated and made accessible to users. In this context, NDIC is being visualised as a national centre of innovation and excellence in data collection that will build research capacity to strengthen India’s data ecosystem to meet the 21st Century challenges. NDIC forms an important core of NCAER’s long-standing data collection activities.
The main objective of NCAER-NDIC is to serve as a laboratory for experiments in data collection, interfacing with partners in think tanks, Indian and international universities, and government. In particular, the Centre will address problems with existing data streams and important data currently not collected; foster, incubate, mainstream, and increase uptake of data innovations; and improve the triangulation and compatibility of distinct but related datasets. It will also: (1) promote innovative data and quality assurance modules using new data collection methods and technologies, initially in the areas of gender empowerment, financial inclusion, health and agriculture; (2) build connections with diverse stakeholders, including data researchers, and data professionals located within government national data agencies; and (3) enhance skills through formal and informal training and through the building of a broader collaborative network. For additional information, please contact Prof Sonalde Desai.
Delhi NCR Coronavirus Telephone Survey (DCVTS)
NCAER has conducted two Rounds of its Delhi National Capital Region Coronavirus Telephone Survey (DCVTS) in April 2020. NCAER’s National Data Innovation Centre has carried out Round 1 and Round 2 of this rapid response telephonic surveys in the Delhi NCR region in April to assess:
Round 1 of the Delhi NCR Coronavirus Telephone Survey (DCVTS-1), conducted between April 3 and 6 interviewed 1,756 adults, each sharing the experience of their household. The results of this round was released on April 12, 2020. Round 2 of the DCVTS (DCVTS-2), conducted between April 23 and 26, interviewed 1,885 adults from a different set of households selected randomly from the same urban blocks and villages of Delhi NCR that were sampled in Round 1. The results of the Round 2 of DCVTS was released on May 1, 2020.
Round 1 and Round 2 of DCVTS were conducted each about a week prior to the announced end of each lockout period to generate evidence to support the crucial decisions policymakers are faced with.
NCAER launched Round 3 of its Delhi National Capital Region Coronavirus Telephone Survey (DCVTS) on June 15, 2020. The DCVTS-3 will build in crucial ways on the important and timely findings of the first two NCAER DCVTS Rounds. It will resurvey all households contacted in both Rounds 1 and 2, doubling the size of its sample and increasing the precision of its findings.
DCVTS Round 1 Press Release
DCVTS Round 2 Press Release
DCVTS Round 3 Press Release
DCVTS Round 4 Press Release
2020 Call for Papers and Training Participation
The NCAER National Data Innovation Centre will host the First International Survey Methodology Conference in India on June 10-11, 2020 at the NCAER India Centre. The Conference seeks to bring together government statistical personnel, academia, and the global research community to explore the challenges and opportunities offered by this changing landscape of data capture, data analysis, data curation, and data usage. The Conference includes a prior training programme.
The last date for submission of proposals has lapsed. Detailed information is available here. 2019 Request for Proposals (RFP) on Methodological Innovations to Improve Data Quality.
NCAER-NDIC invites proposals on methods to improve data quality across the following themes: gender equity, women’s time use, health system, health insurance and healthcare expenditure, employment and unemployment, family planning, and financial inclusion. The proposals should ideally focus on generating evidence pertaining to these specific areas relevant to data quality: Sampling frame for selection of ultimate sampling units, Use of paradata as a quality assurance mechanism, Controlling interviewer bias and variability in outcomes, Real time survey data and consistency checks, Use of machine learning techniques to identify patterns automatically, Secondary data analysis to quantify variability between interviewers. Applicants affiliated to any academic or research institutes, non-profit organisations, and private companies that have experience in primary data collection and work out of offices located within India are eligible to apply. The Centre will support a budget of up to Rs. 20,00,000/- (inclusive of all applicable taxes) for a period of 12 months.
The last date for submission of proposals has lapsed. Detailed information is available here. Request for Student Research Proposals supervised by Faculty Members
NCAER-NDIC invites proposal on methodologies for data collection and analysis across the following domains: gender equity, health system, health insurance and healthcare expenditure, employment and unemployment, family planning, and financial inclusion. The proposals should focus on innovative ideas to improve data quality pertaining to these aspects; Fulfilling data needs and bridging gaps, Mode of data collection, Questionnaire designing, Social desirability bias, Interview setting, Survey implementation. Students pursuing their PhD degree or equivalent in any Indian academic or research institute are eligible to apply. The Centre will support a budget of up to Rs 6 lakhs for a period of 12 months.
The last date for submission of proposals has lapsed. Detailed information is available here.
2018 NCAER-NDIC has recently invited Proposals on Methodological Experiments with Telephone Surveys in India. the focus of the current RFP is to seek proposals on data collection experiments involving phone surveys across the following themes: household income and expenditure, labour force participation, financial inclusion, health insurance and out-of-pocket expenditure, gender equality and empowerment, other forms of social inequality, and agriculture. Applicants affiliated to any academic or research institutes, non-profit organisations, and private companies that have experience in primary data collection and have offices within India are eligible to apply. The Centre will support a budget of up to Rs. 20 lakh (inclusive of all applicable taxes) for a period of 12 months.
The last date for submission of proposals has lapsed. Detailed information is available here.
NCAER-NDIC has also invited Student Research Proposals supervised by faculty members on methodologies for data collection and analysis across the following domains: gender equity, income from different sources, consumption expenditure, employment and unemployment, financial inclusion, health insurance and health expenditure, and agriculture. The Centre will support a budget of up to Rs. 6 lakhs for a period of 12 months.
The last date for submission of proposals has lapsed. Detailed information is available here.
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