March 23, 2026 – In a landmark move to bolster data-driven policy analysis and academic rigor, the University of Hyderabad (UoH) and the Directorate of Census Operations (DCO), Telangana, Ministry of Home Affairs, formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today. This partnership establishes a dedicated Workstation for Research on Sample Micro-data from the Census, located at the University’s School of Economics.

The facility was inaugurated by university leadership and senior government officials, marking a significant expansion of the research infrastructure available to the academic community in Southern India.

Unlocking the Potential of National Datasets

The new workstation is designed to provide qualified researchers with secure access to anonymized, record-level census data. This initiative allows for:

  • In-depth Demographic Studies: Access to data points not typically available in public aggregate tables.
  • Customized Analysis: Generation of cross-tabulations tailored to specific socio-economic research questions.
  • Policy Impact: High-level statistical modeling to inform regional and national developmental strategies.

“This facility is not limited to University members; it is open to all qualified researchers,” noted the joint Steering Committee. A collaborative body comprising representatives from both the School of Economics and the DCO will oversee the approval of research proposals to ensure the facility is utilized for high-quality, impactful scholarship.

Distinguished Presence at the Signing

The MoU was exchanged in the presence of key officials from the Government of India and the University administration:

Representing the Directorate of Census Operations:

  • Smt. Bharati Hollikeri, IAS, Director
  • Shri R. Gyanashekar, Deputy Registrar General
  • Shri Rajiv Adhikari, Assistant Director
  • Shri Gurvinder Singh, Assistant Director (IT), Census Govt. of India

Representing the University of Hyderabad:

  • Prof. J. Anuradha, Vice-Chancellor (In-charge)
  • Dr. Devesh Nigam, Registrar
  • Prof. Debashis Acharya, Dean, School of Economics
  • Prof. Samrat Sabat, Director, Research and Development Cell (RDC)
  • Prof. Soma Venugopal, Chairman, MoU Committee
  • Prof. Alok Mishra, Infrastructure In-charge
  • Dr. Nitin Tagade, Nodal Officer
  • Mr. Ashish Jacob Thomas, PRO

State-of-the-Art Research Infrastructure

Housed within a fully air-conditioned, 1,000 sq. ft. facility on the University’s East Campus, the workstation is equipped with:

  • High-End Computing: Dedicated servers and specialized terminals.
  • Advanced Analytics: Access to industry-standard statistical software including SPSS and STATA.
  • Security Protocols: Strict data-handling measures to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of the national census records.

About the University of Hyderabad: The University of Hyderabad (UoH) is a premier Institution of Eminence (IoE) known for its excellence in postgraduate teaching and research. The School of Economics at UoH is one of the leading centers for economic research and training in India.

About the Directorate of Census Operations: The DCO, Telangana, operates under the Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India (ORG&CCI). It is responsible for conducting the decennial Population Census, registering births and deaths, and managing the National Population Register (NPR).

 

For any further clarifications kindly contact Dr. Alok Kumar Mishra on email: alokmishra@uohyd.ac.in