Department of Economics & Statistics (DES),
Government of Tamil Nadu
Project Overview
The Department of Economics and Statistics (DES), Government of Tamil Nadu, serves as the State’s apex statistical agency. It is responsible for the collection, consolidation, analysis, and dissemination of data across a host of critical sectors, including agriculture, industries, labour, wages, prices, state income, district income, and socio-economic indicators.
DES carries out around 30 recurring surveys every year across Tamil Nadu, in addition to special studies mandated by the State Government, the Central Government, and national statistical bodies. These surveys form the empirical backbone for planning, monitoring, and evaluating developmental initiatives.
For decades, DES followed the Paper and Pen Interviewing (PAPI) methodology. Enumerators collected responses manually on printed survey schedules, which were later keyed into computers at district or state level. While widely used, PAPI imposed several operational and quality-related constraints:
- High printing and logistics expenses
- Data loss risk due to physical handling
- Delayed data compilation and report generation
- Inability to attach verifiable multimedia evidence
- Absence of programmable skips, automatic calculations, or real-time checks
- Difficulty in monitoring district-wise field progress
To address these structural limitations and improve the completeness, accuracy, and credibility of statistical data, DES initiated the transition from PAPI to Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) where mobile devices are used to collect structured, validated, and multimedia-supported responses.
Key Features
- Centralized Web-Based Survey Management Portal
- Android-Based CAPI Mobile Application
- Role-Based Access & Workflow Control
- Real-Time Monitoring & MIS Dashboard
- Data Validation & Integrity Controls
- Security & Compliance
- Architecture & Infrastructure
- Training, UAT, Pilot & Rollout Support
Technologies and Tools
Application Architecture
- Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)
- Open Standards Compliant
Web Portal
- Open-source technology stack
- Secure, scalable, GIGW-compliant
Mobile App
- Android-based
- Offline-first with local device storage
Security Technologies
- SSL Certificate
- CERT-IN Audit compliance
Hosting Infrastructure
- Servers & environment provisioning by DES/ELCOT
- Scalable to support thousands of concurrent users
Improve Efficiency
Real-time governance and data driven decision making.
Citizen-Centric
Enhanced transparency and accountability.
Performance Tracking
Custom KPIs and departmental monitoring.
Certified Solution
CERT-IN compliant and safe-to-host certified.
The implementation of the Common Survey Application Portal (CSAP) has delivered transformative improvements across the Department of Economics & Statistics (DES), significantly enhancing the efficiency, accuracy, scalability, and governance of statewide survey operations. The digitization of DES’s traditionally manual, paper-driven workflows has resulted in measurable operational, technical, and administrative impacts
- End-to-End Digital Transformation of DES Surveys : Transition from manual PAPI to digital CAPI improved efficiency, reduced errors, and brought DES in line with modern statistical practices.
- Significant Cost Reduction : Lower expenditure on printing, logistics, manual compilation, and re-surveys.
- Better Data Quality & Reliability : Form validations, skip logic, mandatory fields, and multimedia capture ensure high accuracy and reliability.
- Real-Time Monitoring Capability : For the first time, DES could view daily field progress across districts using dashboards and MIS tools.
- Enhanced Field Accountability : GPS + photo/audio evidence + timestamps improved the credibility of submissions.
- Scalability for Future Surveys : New schemes can be configured quickly; architecture supports long-term expansion.
- Strengthened Governance & Decision-Making : Reliable data improves the quality of state-level planning and statistical reporting.
