New Delhi
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation is developing a new framework to assess the contribution of knowledge and knowledge-based products to the Indian economy, according to an official statement released on Saturday.
The initiative aims to better understand the growing role of knowledge-driven activities in economic growth amid rapid technological advancements and changing workforce requirements.
The ministry stated that the framework is being designed in response to increasing technological transformation and the rising complexity of skill demands across industries. Officials noted that measuring the economic value generated through knowledge systems, innovation and intellectual outputs has become essential for policymaking and economic planning.
According to the statement, the exercise seeks to address the growing importance of knowledge in economic activity and support the formulation of policies capable of capturing evolving economic dynamics. The ministry described the effort as a first-of-its-kind initiative in India due to the absence of a comparable global precedent.
The statement further said that the project requires collaboration with experts and stakeholders from multiple sectors because of the complexity involved in defining and quantifying knowledge products and their economic contribution.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation constituted a Technical Advisory Group following recommendations from a meeting chaired by Ajay Kumar Sood. The advisory group was tasked with developing a structured approach for measuring the contribution of knowledge-related sectors to the country’s gross domestic product.
In September 2025, the ministry organised a brainstorming workshop to help create a taxonomy of knowledge products and identify quantitative indicators and relevant data sources for evaluating their economic value. Experts participating in the discussions also explored challenges related to measurement methodologies and data availability.
Based on recommendations from the Technical Advisory Group, suggestions received during the workshop and subsequent consultations, the ministry has now prepared a base paper outlining a proposed framework for measuring the contribution of knowledge and knowledge products to the Indian economy.
The document consists of four chapters covering conceptual aspects of knowledge and the knowledge economy, existing methodologies and metrics, the dimensions and challenges of India’s traditional knowledge systems, and a framework for evaluating the economic value of knowledge contributions.
The ministry has invited comments and suggestions from stakeholders and the general public as part of a broader consultation process. Feedback can be submitted to the ministry until June 15, 2026, after which the framework is expected to be finalised.
