New Delhi, June 03: The National Statistics Office (NSO) has released a uniform guideline for the compilation of District Domestic Product (DDP) estimates with the revised base year of 2022-23, marking a significant step towards standardising district-level economic statistics across India.
According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the guideline establishes a comprehensive framework for preparing District Domestic Product estimates across states and union territories, ensuring greater consistency, comparability and methodological uniformity.
The document outlines concepts, coverage, data sources, estimation methods and procedures for calculating Gross District Domestic Product (GDDP), Net District Domestic Product (NDDP) and Per Capita Income at the district level.
The guideline emphasises a bottom-up approach for compiling DDP estimates wherever district-level data is available. In sectors where such data is limited, it recommends top-down estimation methods and suitable allocation indicators to derive reliable district-level figures.
Currently, 26 states and union territories compile District Domestic Product estimates. The ministry is working to bring all states and UTs under a common framework to ensure uniform and comparable district-level economic statistics nationwide.
Officials said the finalised guideline is expected to harmonise estimation practices across states and strengthen the institutional framework for preparing district-level economic data.
Reliable and comparable DDP estimates are increasingly important for decentralised governance, regional development planning, evidence-based policymaking and informed decision-making at the local level.
The guideline is also expected to help states and union territories strengthen statistical systems, improve data quality and build institutional capacity for generating robust district-level economic indicators.
MoSPI had earlier released a draft version of the guideline on April 7, 2026, inviting comments from stakeholders, including state governments, academic institutions, researchers and users of sub-state statistics.
Following a detailed review of feedback received during the consultation process, the ministry has now finalised and published the guideline on its official website.
The move is expected to enhance the quality of regional economic assessment and support more targeted policy interventions aimed at balanced and inclusive development across districts.
