New Delhi, Nov 4: In a major push to modernise India’s official data infrastructure, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Rs 4,371.10-crore Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics & Research (VISTAR) Scheme for the five-year period from 2026-27 to 2030-31.
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The scheme, approved at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to transform the country’s statistical ecosystem by making official data collection more technology-driven, timely, transparent and accessible.
Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the initiative seeks to establish a modern statistical framework supported by real-time data, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and improved data integration.
The scheme will cover the statistical and data management activities of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), with a focus on strengthening evidence-based policymaking at both national and state levels.
Three key pillars of the VISTAR scheme
The initiative will operate through three major components:
Comprehensive Statistical Operations and Strengthening of Ecosystem.
Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS).
Economic Census (EC).
Together, these components are intended to improve the quality of official statistics, strengthen institutional capacity and address critical data gaps across different sectors of the economy.
59 surveys planned to improve data coverage
Under the Comprehensive Statistical Operations component, MoSPI plans to conduct 59 surveys during the 16th Finance Commission cycle, compared with 43 major surveys undertaken previously.
The expanded survey programme is expected to generate more detailed information across sectors, helping policymakers identify emerging economic and social trends and design more targeted interventions.
The ministry will also accelerate the digital transformation of statistical operations, covering the entire process from data collection to processing, validation, analysis and dissemination.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning will be integrated into regular statistical workflows to improve accuracy, efficiency and the speed of data processing.
The government also plans to introduce new statistical indicators, including the Headline Index of Services Production and the Index of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises.
AI-ready data and alternative sources to strengthen policymaking
A key feature of VISTAR is the development of a harmonised and interoperable national data ecosystem.
MoSPI will focus on standardised data cataloguing, machine-readable formats, secure data-sharing protocols and privacy-focused systems to reduce information silos across government departments.
The initiative will also explore alternative data sources, including mobile phone records, scanner data and e-commerce information, to complement conventional surveys.
These sources are expected to help fill information gaps, reduce the burden on survey respondents and improve the availability of economic data.
The scheme will further support capacity building by creating opportunities for students, young researchers and academic institutions through internship programmes and research initiatives.
States and UTs to receive support for statistical capacity
The Support for Statistical Strengthening component, known as SSS 2.0, will provide financial and technical assistance to State and Union Territory governments through a redesigned, deliverable-linked framework.
The objective is to improve the ability of states to generate reliable and detailed statistics at district and other local levels.
MoSPI will extend technical support for developing district-level and million-plus city estimates through 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 also strengthen the compilation of State and District Domestic Product estimates and the State-level Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
This is expected to help state governments identify local development gaps and make policy decisions based on more accurate regional data.
Eighth Economic Census to map India’s unorganised sector
Another major component of the scheme is the proposed Eighth Economic Census, which will be conducted by MoSPI in collaboration with State and Union Territory governments.
The census will collect detailed information on non-farm establishments and the workers engaged by them, with data coverage extending down to the Gram Panchayat and municipal ward levels.
The exercise will provide a comprehensive picture of the country’s unorganised economic sector and support the development of a National Statistical Business Register.
The proposed register will serve as a foundation for targeted enterprise surveys, economic planning and policy interventions.
The data is also expected to improve assessments of the contribution made by unorganised businesses to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Focus on a stronger data-driven economy
With an allocation of Rs 4,371.10 crore over five years, the VISTAR scheme represents a significant investment in strengthening India’s statistical infrastructure.
By combining expanded surveys, digital technologies, state-level capacity building and a comprehensive Economic Census, the government aims to make official statistics more reliable, detailed and responsive to changing policy requirements.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the foundation for data-driven governance and support more informed economic and developmental planning as India moves towards its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
