Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (TIET) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to develop a predictive and analytical framework for monthly household consumption expenditure in India.

TIET researchers will use data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) to estimate monthly per capita consumption expenditure at the national and state levels. The study will also examine spending patterns and generate data to support poverty estimation and economic planning.

The agreement was signed by TIET Vice-Chancellor Prof Padmakumar Nair and MoSPI Additional Director General R Rajesh in the presence of MoSPI Secretary Dr Saurabh Garg and other officials.

According to the Economic Survey 2025–26, private final consumption expenditure accounted for 61.5 per cent of India’s GDP in FY26, its highest share since 2011–12.

MoSPI’s HCES 2023–24 covered more than 2.61 lakh households. It estimated average monthly per capita consumption expenditure at ₹4,122 in rural India and ₹6,996 in urban India. The data is used to measure poverty, track inequality and update the Consumer Price Index.

The proposed framework is intended to provide policymakers with consumption estimates between survey rounds.

“Official statistics are the foundation on which a nation plans for its people, from poverty estimation to price indices,” Nair said, adding that the institute would contribute its research expertise to the study.

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