Page 93 - PDI_Report

Weights for Block, District and State PDI relating to poverty and demographic rates, other than
population, falls in this category. However, in many such cases,
The process for computing a thematic and PDI score for a GP
annual estimates are also made available by different agencies.
has been elaborated in earlier paras. These score can be used to
generate a PDI score for the Blocks, districts, states or even Considering the picture in totality, it is observed that majority
of indicators under consideration are updated on annual basis. It
is therefore natural that PDI may also have an annual frequency.
However, as PDI methodology is quite robust, PDI can easily
be adjusted for a lower frequency of half yearly or monthly
after sometime whenever information on data points become
available, if felt required.
The PDI is seen as an Annual index.

It is not suggested at this point that the PDI be calculated more
often than annually, but Indicator scores and Thematic scores
can be seen more frequently, and as required to be seen
considering the nature of the activities and programmes planned
by the GP to progress on the indicator. This would make the
constituents of the PDI monitorable for progress and action to
a National estimate. As the GP, Block, Districts and States be taken by GPs and others, and not just provide a fait accompli
varies in size and population, it will be irrational to simply
at the end of the year.
aggregate the score without any weight. As PDI score is largely
The calculation of the SDGII is annual. The PDI is also seen as
reflective of the wellbeing of the population of the area, it
an annual index. Within the SDGII, the reference periods of
would be most appropriate to take the population ratio as the
different indicators are different, such as in SDG-1, No Poverty
weights. However, as number of GPs in a district has high
correlation with population, proportion of GP in a district or a it is data from MoSPI's Consumer Expenditure Survey, 2011-
State can also be taken as weight for aggregating the GP score 12, that is used. NFHS 4 was used till NFHS 5 data has come
in when such data is used, basically due to lack of other better
for District or State PDI.
& available data that is more current. Consequently, the

Frequency and Reference Period of PDI reflection on the Index figure naturally does not present current
PDI is proposed to be based on over 500 indicators which status. In the third round of the index calculation, SDGII
consist of almost 700 distinct data points. The data points are however, has 26 indicators of its 115 total indicators with
diverse both in manner of collection of information as well as immediately preceding year (2020-21) as the Reference period.
the periodicity. Further, there are numerous agencies/authorities st
Reference Period is taken as "31 March
which are responsible for collection of information on these
covering the preceding year"
data points. The information in many cases is collected as part
of Administrative process, whereas in some cases surveys are Most of the data points are either frequency indicators like
conducted to collect information. As a consequence, the number of events/incidents during a period or are status
information on data points is updated in a varied manner. The indicators like no. of students, population, availability of
frequency of updation may be monthly, quarterly, half yearly or infrastructure etc. In order to have a fair comparison, all
annually. Information on some indicators is updated even on indicators should have the same reference period for frequency
quinquennial basis or in a bigger time frame. The indicators data and same cut of date for status data points. The system of

PDI Committee Report - 2023: Panchayat Development Index 67