The S&M Division is pivotal in collection, compilation and management of Statistical data on Production, Installed Capacity, Consumption, Import and Export in respect of selected Chemicals and Petrochemicals. It also prepares various kinds of analysis on production, imports, exports, consumption, installed capacity etc. of Chemicals and Petrochemicals Data. This division also provides information for Index of Industrial Production, Annual Reports, Standing committee, Induction material for Secretary / Ministers etc. In addition to this the division prepares and supply of relevant materials / data for Parliament questions on Chemicals and Petro-chemicals products.
Key Responsibilities of the Division:
1. Monthly Production Data:
- Collecting and compiling Monthly Production Returns (MPRs) from large and medium-scale units in the chemical sector via mail or post.
- Entering monthly production data into the PMS portal.
- Annually preparing the installed capacity data for chemical and petrochemical products based on the MPRs.
2. Export and Import Data:
- Quarterly compiling of export and import data for the chemical sector from the DGCIS. Kolkata.
3. Industrial Production (IIP) Data:
- Preparing and providing the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) data related to the chemical sector.
4. Publications/Journals:
- Annually preparing the "Chemical and Petrochemical Statistics at a Glance" report.
- Drafting Chapter 2 of the Department’s Annual Report each year.
5. Directory:
- Preparing and updating the directory of chemical and petrochemical units.
6. Collection of Statistics Act and Rues Matters:
- Handling issues related to the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008 and Rule 2011 and enforce this Act and Rule for the data collection in the Department from chemical and petrochemical industries.
7. ChemIndia Web Portal:
The S&M Divisions also handles the ChemIndia web-portal which is a secure, web-based platform developed by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals. Its primary purpose is to compile a comprehensive Chemical Inventory of India. The portal enables the systematic collection of essential statistics from chemical and petrochemical manufacturing units, including data on production, installed capacity, export, import, purchases, and sales.
The ChemIndia web portal was officially launched on February 29, 2024. The portal has undergone significant development both before and after its launch, focusing on portal improvements and the onboarding of industry participants. The salient features of the web portal are as below:-
- The objective of the portal is to collect, compile & analysis of real time data, received from the chemical and petrochemical industries.
- The requisite data shall be available on monthly/annual basis.
- It will reduce the expenses, time, and administrative work involved with manual data gathering and storage.
- This platform includes GIS Dashboards, which allow users to deliver location-based insights using simple, interactive data visualisations on a single screen.
- Its an outlet for the growing need to make research material and data easy to share and re-use for the industrial policy building.
- This platform allows the overall consolidation of data at one place covering pan India industries/units.
- It’s an intuitive interface that makes it simple for businesses organisation to get better support system and facilitation desk for all purposes.
- This makes it possible to analyse data on things like the substance(s)' hazardous classification, important exposure routes, environmental exposure, and more.
- It will improve data processing capabilities, incorporates contemporary tools including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics.
- It offers a glimpse into the future and a mental map for potential plans based on the systematic reporting.
- Assures a complete understanding of the performance and trends of the sector.
- To support researcher to conduct research and analysis.
- Encourages quick decisions and quick responses based on current market insights.
- Increases accuracy and efficiency in managing and interpreting data.
- Facilitates informed decision-making at the national and regional levels by offering policymakers in the chemical industry useful data insights.
- Promotes collaboration and partnerships throughout the ecosystem of the chemical sector.
- Offers easily accessible data for generating a range of reports, including forecasts for the future, analyses of consumer behaviour, market trends, etc.
- Encourages knowledge generation and innovation in the petrochemical and chemical industries.
Key Responsibilities in ChemIndia web portal:
(i). Portal Improvement:
- The portal is branded as "chemindia.chemicals.gov.in."
- The portal's evolution has been continuous, with a focus on enhancing data security, ensuring comprehensive data collection, simplifying data submission, and aligning disclosures with sector dynamics.
- Detailed information initially required in chemical descriptions, such as hazard details, molecular structures, IUPAC names, and CAS numbers, has been either removed or made optional to streamline data entry.
- The portal is continuously monitored by developers for security concerns, in addition to undergoing various security and SSL audits.
(ii). Onboarding:
- To facilitate the onboarding of industries and units, the S&M Division of DCPC has conducted meetings through various channels, including sensitization programs, workshops, webinars, and individual visits across India.
- The division has also engaged with various industry associations to ensure broader participation.
- A dedicated helpdesk team makes numerous calls daily, based on the ASI frame database, to request companies to register and submit their data.
- Additionally, the division collaborates with government agencies such as state industrial corporations, pollution control boards, state principal secretaries, CIPET, and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to support onboarding efforts.
(iii). Legal Notices and Compliance:
- In accordance with Section 4 of the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, a Statistics Officer has been appointed. This Officer is responsible for requesting information under Section 5 of the Act, responding to the reply of the notices sent by the industries and ensuring compliance with all legal requirements for data collection along with pursuing the industries in case of non-adherence to the provisions of the Act.
- The portal also adheres to various legal obligations concerning data collection, restriction, disclosure, and procurement, as outlined in the Act. This includes compliance with the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites (GIGW).Further there also compliances in respect to data privacy, information technology laws which has to be addressed.
(iv). Helpdesk:
- The portal features a dedicated helpdesk that addresses queries from industries and units. These queries are received via phone calls, emails, feedback forms, and tickets raised by registered users.
(v). Data Approvals:
A team of chemical science experts within the division is responsible for approving the data submitted by industry units. The data is reviewed based on parameters such as chemical production descriptions, installed capacity, export, import, purchases, and sales.
