The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics and Research (VISTAR), a central sector scheme with an outlay of Rs 4,371.10 crore for the period 2026-27 to 2030-31.
Aligned with the government’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, the scheme aims to modernise India’s official statistical system by improving data timeliness, accuracy, granularity and interoperability while integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced analytics into statistical processes.
The initiative will cover statistical and data management activities of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), providing flexibility to allocate resources according to evolving policy requirements.
According to the government, VISTAR will focus on strengthening large-scale surveys, statistical research, digital transformation and national data governance to support evidence-based policymaking.
The scheme comprises three major components: Comprehensive Statistical Operations and Strengthening of Ecosystem, Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS), and Economic Census (EC).
Under the first component, MoSPI plans to conduct 59 surveys during the 16th Finance Commission cycle, compared with 43 major surveys conducted previously. The expanded survey programme is expected to address critical data gaps across sectors and support more timely and targeted policy interventions.
The ministry will also undertake end-to-end digitisation of statistical processes and integrate AI and machine learning into routine operations, particularly for data processing, validation and analysis.
As part of the initiative, MoSPI plans to introduce new statistical indicators, including the Headline Index of Services Production and the Index of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises.
The scheme will strengthen data harmonisation through improved cataloguing, machine-readable formats, interoperability, data-sharing protocols and privacy-by-design principles.
These measures are intended to reduce data fragmentation, improve programme targeting, minimise duplication and enable data-driven decision-making across different levels of government.
MoSPI also plans to incorporate alternative data sources, including mobile phone, scanner and e-commerce data, to complement traditional surveys, reduce the burden on respondents and address information gaps.
The initiative will support capacity-building and research opportunities through internships for students and research proposals from academic and research institutions.
Under the Support for Statistical Strengthening component, financial assistance will be provided to state and Union Territory governments through a redesigned, deliverable-linked framework known as SSS 2.0.
The framework aims to strengthen statistical capabilities at the state and district levels, improve the availability of granular data and promote the use of statistical evidence in local policymaking.
MoSPI will also provide technical assistance to expand the generation of district-level and million-plus-city estimates under major national surveys, including the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) and Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE).
The initiative will further support the compilation of state- and district-level Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates and state-level Index of Industrial Production (IIP) data.
Under the Economic Census component, MoSPI will conduct the eighth Economic Census in collaboration with states and Union Territories.
The exercise will collect detailed information on non-farm establishments and their workers down to the Gram Panchayat and ward levels, providing a comprehensive assessment of the country’s unorganised economic sector.
The census data will also serve as the foundation for developing a National Statistical Business Register (SBR), which will facilitate targeted enterprise surveys and support policy interventions.
According to the government, the data generated through the Economic Census will help policymakers and planners at national and sub-national levels better assess economic activity, particularly in the unorganised sector, and improve estimates of its contribution to GDP.
The VISTAR scheme is expected to strengthen India’s statistical infrastructure, improve the availability of reliable and timely data, and support informed policymaking in line with the country’s long-term development objectives.
(PIB)
