National Council of Applied Economic Research

The National Council of Applied Economic Research, commonly known as NCAER, is an independent, nonprofit economic policy research institution headquartered in New Delhi. Established in 1956, it was created at a formative stage in India’s post-independence planning process, when policymakers needed dependable economic and social data, independent analysis and practical methods for evaluating public programmes. The council’s founding discussions brought together senior government officials, economists, business leaders and representatives of the Ford Foundation. T. T. Krishnamachari helped advance the original concept, J. R. D. Tata agreed to act as a sponsor, and C. D. Deshmukh, John Matthai, N. R. Pillai, J. F. Sinclair and Asoka Mehta were among the prominent figures associated with the founding governing body. The organization initially operated under the name Council for Industrial and Economic Research; in August 1956, P. S. Lokanathan became its first Director General and the institution adopted its present name. NCAER combines economic research, policy outreach and large-scale primary data collection. Its work has particularly emphasized household surveys, living standards, labor, consumption, health, education, agriculture, gender, human development and the effects of public policy. It also undertakes macroeconomic and sectoral analysis, computable general equilibrium modelling, impact evaluation, business expectation surveys and research on states, trade, technology and skills. This combination of analytical capacity and field-based evidence has distinguished NCAER from institutions focused only on academic research or only on consultancy. The council’s outputs include books, research reports, working papers, monographs, policy briefs, newsletters, opinion articles and recurring economic assessments. Its quarterly Business Expectations Survey, conducted since 1991, tracks business sentiment across industries, regions, ownership categories and firm sizes. The Monthly Review of the Economy summarizes important Indian and international economic developments and interprets high-frequency indicators. NCAER also publishes Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research in collaboration with SAGE Publications, a refereed journal focused on applied economics, quantitative methods and development policy. NCAER has developed a substantial public-affairs and convening role. The India Policy Forum, launched in 2004, brings researchers and policymakers together around empirical work on Indian economic policy and produces an associated journal volume. The annual C. D. Deshmukh Memorial Lecture, instituted in 2013, commemorates one of the council’s founding figures and has featured senior international economic thinkers. NCAER and the National Bureau of Economic Research began the Neemrana Conference in 1999 as an informal forum for policymakers, regulators, business leaders and academics from India and the United States; the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations later became a partner. Its research structure includes centres and programmes covering national growth and macroeconomics, human development and data innovation, investor education and protection, general equilibrium modelling, states and impact evaluation, agriculture and industry, health policy and systems, gender and macroeconomy, and state-level economic growth. In 2017, NCAER established the National Data Innovation Centre to test new approaches to data collection and collaborate with universities, governments and research organizations. NCAER first worked from a bungalow in New Delhi’s Chanakyapuri area. Its present institutional campus developed around Parisila Bhawan, whose foundation was laid by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and which was inaugurated by President Rajendra Prasad in March 1961. A later modernization programme created the NCAER India Centre, including a new office tower and auditorium completed in 2018. The council remains an important Indian source of empirical economic evidence and policy research, serving government departments, international organizations, scholars and other public-policy users.

NCAER emerged in 1956 from a national concern that India’s new planning and development institutions lacked reliable, independent economic and social data. T. T. Krishnamachari discussed the concept with Douglas Ensminger of the Ford Foundation and subsequently approached J. R. D. Tata about sponsoring an institute devoted to industrial and economic problems. A founding governing-body meeting was held in May 1956 in the office of the Planning Commission’s Deputy Chairman, V. T. Krishnamachari. The group associated with the launch included Finance Minister C. D. Deshmukh, J. R. D. Tata, John Matthai, N. R. Pillai, J. F. Sinclair and Asoka Mehta. The organization was initially called the Council for Industrial and Economic Research. In August of that year, P. S. Lokanathan was appointed its first Director General and the name was changed to the National Council of Applied Economic Research. The council developed as an independent nonprofit institution working between government, academia and industry. Its mission was not limited to theoretical economics: it sought to collect original evidence, analyze economic and social conditions and communicate findings to decision-makers. Over subsequent decades, NCAER became especially associated with household surveys and other large-scale field studies, while also expanding into macroeconomics, agriculture, industry, health, education, labor, gender, trade, technology and state-level development. NCAER’s institutional campus became an important part of its identity. After an early period in a Chanakyapuri bungalow, the council moved to the Parisila Bhawan campus in New Delhi. The building’s foundation was laid by Jawaharlal Nehru and it was inaugurated by President Rajendra Prasad in March 1961. Designed by architect A. P. Kanvinde, the campus became a base for economists, statisticians, journalists and policy professionals. A later redevelopment began with the foundation stone for the NCAER India Centre in July 2013; the new office tower and auditorium were completed in August 2018. The organization’s public-policy role broadened through recurring publications and events. Its Business Expectations Survey has been conducted quarterly since 1991, while the Monthly Review of the Economy provides continuing analysis of Indian and global developments. The India Policy Forum began in 2004 as an annual platform for empirical economic research and policy discussion. The C. D. Deshmukh Memorial Lecture was instituted in 2013 to honor a founding figure who had served as India’s Finance Minister and the first Indian Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. In 1999, NCAER and the National Bureau of Economic Research launched the Neemrana Conference, an informal India–United States policy forum later organized with ICRIER as an additional Indian partner. NCAER has also maintained a scholarly publishing role through Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, published with SAGE Publications. In 2017, the National Data Innovation Centre added an experimental and collaborative dimension to the institution’s survey and data work. In the 2020–21 period, the council reported producing a book, dozens of reports, working papers, a monthly project newsletter and other publications. Its current research architecture covers national growth and macroeconomics, human development, data innovation, computable general equilibrium modelling, impact evaluation, agriculture, industry, health systems, gender and state economic growth. Through these activities, NCAER continues to operate as a policy-facing research institution focused on evidence about India’s economic and social transformation.

• 2018

  India Centre redevelopment completed

  [3]Business Expectations Survey beginsncaer.org

  The modernized campus gained a new office tower and auditorium.

• 2017

  National Data Innovation Centre founded

  [3]Business Expectations Survey beginsncaer.org

  NCAER established a centre dedicated to experimentation and collaboration in socioeconomic data collection.

• 2013

  C. D. Deshmukh Memorial Lecture instituted

  [3]Business Expectations Survey beginsncaer.org

  NCAER created an annual lecture series honoring founding governing-body member C. D. Deshmukh.

• 2004

  India Policy Forum established

  [3]Business Expectations Survey beginsncaer.org

  NCAER launched its annual conference and associated publication focused on empirical research and Indian economic policy.

• 1999

  Neemrana Conference launched

  [3]Business Expectations Survey beginsncaer.org

  NCAER and NBER created a policy forum connecting Indian and American economists, policymakers, regulators and business leaders.

• 1991

  Business Expectations Survey begins

  [3]Business Expectations Survey beginsncaer.org

  NCAER began its recurring quarterly survey of business sentiment across Indian industries.

• 1961

  Parisila Bhawan inaugurated

  [1]National Council of Applied Economic Researchen.wikipedia.org

  NCAER’s New Delhi campus building was inaugurated after its foundation was laid by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

• 1956

  Institution established

  [1]National Council of Applied Economic Researchen.wikipedia.org

  The Council for Industrial and Economic Research was formed in New Delhi to provide independent economic research and reliable data for national planning.

• 1956

  Name changed to NCAER

  [1]National Council of Applied Economic Researchen.wikipedia.org

  P. S. Lokanathan became the first Director General and the organization adopted the name National Council of Applied Economic Research.

Independent, evidence-led and policy-oriented economic research with distinctive strength in Indian socioeconomic data collection and applied analysis.

• Economic indicator and survey · 1991

  Business Expectations Survey

  A quarterly survey measuring business sentiment and expectations in India. The programme represents different regions, industries, ownership forms and firm sizes, producing evidence on perceptions of the economy and near-term business conditions. Its findings are regularly used in economic commentary and receive coverage in print and digital media.

• Economic publication

  Monthly Review of the Economy

  A recurring publication that reviews important Indian economic and policy developments, follows relevant global trends and interprets high-frequency indicators. It is designed as a current-affairs and analytical resource for policymakers, researchers and other readers tracking the Indian economy.

• Academic journal

  Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research

  A refereed quarterly journal published by NCAER in collaboration with SAGE Publications. It focuses on applied economics, development issues, policy analysis and the use of modern quantitative techniques in economic research.

• Research forum and publication · 2004

  India Policy Forum

  An annual NCAER platform for presenting and discussing empirical research on Indian economic policy. Conference proceedings and related papers are published through the India Policy Forum volume, extending the event’s research and policy audience.

• Research and data programme · 2017

  National Data Innovation Centre

  A laboratory for developing and testing new approaches to socioeconomic data collection. The centre works with think tanks, universities and government partners and supports NCAER’s broader survey, measurement and data-innovation agenda.

• 2013C. D. Deshmukh Memorial Lecture

  India

  NCAER launched an annual lecture honoring C. D. Deshmukh, a founding member of its governing body and former Reserve Bank of India Governor and Union Finance Minister.

  Outcome. The lecture became a recurring public economics event; Gita Gopinath delivered the 2021 lecture on the global economic outlook.

  Source
• 2004India Policy Forum

  India

  NCAER established an annual conference bringing together economists, academics and policymakers to examine current Indian economic challenges through empirical research.

  Outcome. The forum became a recurring conference and publication platform associated with the India Policy Forum journal volume.

  Source
• 1999NCAER-NBER Neemrana Conference

  India · United States

  NCAER and the National Bureau of Economic Research created an off-the-record policy forum for senior researchers, public officials, regulators, industry participants and academic experts.

  Outcome. The conference continued as a recurring collaboration; ICRIER joined as a second Indian partner in 2008, with NCAER and ICRIER alternating organizational responsibility.

  Source

• 2017

  Launch of the National Data Innovation CentreStrategy

  Background

  Rapid changes in data needs and survey technology created demand for experimentation in socioeconomic measurement.

  Action taken

  NCAER created a dedicated centre to test data-collection innovations and work with universities, think tanks and government partners.

  Aftermath

  The centre strengthened NCAER’s role in survey methodology and data innovation.

  Source

• 1956

  Creation of an independent applied-economics institutionStrategy

  Background

  India’s early development-planning system required dependable economic and social data as well as analysis independent of routine government administration.

  Action taken

  Founders established a nonprofit council combining research, primary data collection and policy outreach.

  Aftermath

  NCAER developed into a major Indian institution for applied economic research and socioeconomic surveys.

  Source

1. 1National Council of Applied Economic Researchen.wikipedia.org
2. 2National Council of Applied Economic Research official websitencaer.org
3. 3Business Expectations Survey beginsncaer.org