New Delhi, 4 November 2026: The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today approved an allocation of Rs. The 'Developed India Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics and Research (VISTAR)' scheme has been approved with an expenditure of Rs 4,371.10 crore. Aligned with the central objective of Vikas Bharat 2047, the VISTAR scheme is designed to establish a dynamic, real-time and future-ready official statistical architecture for improved timeliness, data granularity, interoperability and interoperability with AI enabled datasets.
The VISTAR scheme provides strategic flexibility to dynamically allocate resources based on immediate policy needs, encouraging a holistic approach to large-scale survey implementation, systematic research, digital transformation and national data governance. The VISTAR scheme will cover all statistical and data management activities of MoSPI and will play a crucial role in upgrading the official statistical system of the country. The three components of the VISTAR scheme are as follows:
ingredient 1: Empowering comprehensive digital operations and ecosystems
component 2: Support for digital empowerment
ingredient 3: economic calculation
Under the comprehensive statistical operations and ecosystem empowerment component, MoSPI proposes to conduct 59 surveys during the 16th Finance Commission cycle, which is more than the 43 core surveys conducted earlier, which will potentially help in filling critical data gaps in various sectors, thereby improving decision making and enabling timely and targeted policy interventions. Additionally, based on recent digital transformation in technology-enabled data aggregation and user-centric dissemination, MoSPI will focus on end-to-end digitization of statistical processes and incorporating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning into routine workflows primarily for data processing, validation and analysis.
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Planning to release new metrics
MoSPI plans to release new metrics including Headline Index of Services Production, Index of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises. MoSPI will work on the foundational pillars of data cataloguing, machine readability, interoperability, sharing protocols and privacy by design etc. to overcome organizational gaps and improve program targeting, reduce duplication and pave the way for AI-driven decision making at government levels. By mainstreaming alternative sources such as mobile phone, scanner and e-commerce data, MoSPI aims to complement traditional surveys, reduce the burden on respondents, fill data gaps and strengthen evidence-based policy making. Additionally, MoSPI will ensure capacity building and advancement opportunities for youth and researchers through internship scheme for students and research proposals from academic and research institutions.
Under the Support for Statistical Empowerment (SSS) component, funds will be provided to State/UT Governments to transform the digital capabilities of States and Union Territories through a redesigned, deliverable-linked framework (SSS 2.0). This approach focuses on building state-level capacity to generate high-quality, granular data at the district and other disaggregated levels, developing indigenous data processing capabilities, and incorporating data use cases into localized policy making. MoSPI will provide technical support to enhance the production of district-level estimates and city-level estimates with population more than one million in flagship national surveys (e.g., PLFS, HCES, ASUSE) as well as in coordination with state/district level GDP and state-level IIP.
Under the Economic Census (EC) component, MoSPI in collaboration with States/UTs will conduct the 8th Economic Census (EC) which will provide accurate data and activity details of all non-agricultural enterprises and workers employed in them up to Gram Panchayat and Ward level, which will provide assessment of the unorganized sector of the economy and develop National Statistical Business Register (SBR) to facilitate targeted enterprise surveys and strategic interventions. Will serve as a foundation for. The Economic Census data will be extremely useful for planners and policy makers at the national and sub-national level, paving the way for estimating the contribution of the unorganized sector to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).