Modi Cabinet approves Rs 4,371-crore VISTAR Scheme to modernise India’s statistical system, expand surveys
Babushahi Bureau/PIB
New Delhi, November 4, 2026: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved a ₹4,371.10-crore central sector scheme to modernise India’s official statistical system through expanded surveys, digital transformation and improved data management.
The Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics and Research (VISTAR) will be implemented from financial year 2026-27 to 2030-31, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the scheme aims to develop a real-time, future-ready statistical architecture with more timely and granular data, improved interoperability and harmonised datasets prepared for artificial intelligence-based analysis.
The scheme will cover the ministry’s statistical and data-management activities through three components: Comprehensive Statistical Operations and Strengthening of Ecosystem, Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS), and Economic Census.
59 surveys planned during 16th Finance Commission cycle
Under the comprehensive statistical operations component, MoSPI plans to conduct 59 surveys during the 16th Finance Commission cycle, compared with 43 major surveys conducted earlier. The ministry said the expansion could help address critical data gaps and support more timely and targeted policy decisions.
The scheme also envisages end-to-end digitalisation of statistical processes and the integration of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into routine data processing, validation and analysis.
MoSPI plans to introduce new statistical measures, including the Headline Index of Services Production and the Index of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises.
The ministry will also explore the use of alternative data sources, including mobile phone, scanner and e-commerce data, to complement traditional surveys, reduce the burden on respondents and help fill data gaps.
Support for states and Union Territories
Under the Support for Statistical Strengthening component, funds will be provided to states and Union Territories through a redesigned, deliverable-linked framework, SSS 2.0.
The initiative aims to strengthen state-level capacity to generate high-quality, detailed data at district and other disaggregated levels, develop local data-processing capabilities and support evidence-based policymaking.
MoSPI will provide technical support to expand district-level and million-plus city estimates in national surveys, including the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) and Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE).
The scheme will also support the compilation of state- and district-level Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates and the state-level Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
8th Economic Census to cover establishments and workers
The third component provides for the 8th Economic Census in collaboration with states and Union Territories.
The census will collect detailed information on non-farm establishments and the workers employed in them, down to the Gram Panchayat and ward levels. The data is expected to provide a more detailed assessment of the unorganised sector and serve as a baseline for developing a National Statistical Business Register.
According to MoSPI, the information will support targeted enterprise surveys and policy interventions, while helping planners estimate the contribution of the unorganised sector to India’s GDP.
The scheme will also provide opportunities for students and researchers through internships and research proposals from academic and research institutions, the ministry said.