The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics & Research (VISTAR) scheme for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31.
With a total financial outlay of Rs 4,371.10 crore, the Central Sector Scheme aims to establish a real-time, dynamic, and future-ready official statistical architecture.
Directly aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, VISTAR will modernise the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) by integrating end-to-end digitalisation, harmonised data structures, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) into standard workflows.
Three Pillars of the VISTAR Initiative
The VISTAR scheme encompasses all statistical and data management operations of MoSPI across three strategic components:
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Comprehensive Statistical Operations and Strengthening of Ecosystem: MoSPI plans to conduct 59 major surveys during the 16th Finance Commission cycle—up from 43 previously—to bridge critical data gaps across various economic and social sectors. The component introduces modern metrics such as the Headline Index of Services Production and the Index of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises. Furthermore, traditional data collection will be augmented using alternate sources like mobile phone, scanner, and e-commerce data.
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Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS 2.0): This component provides deliverable-linked financial and technical support to State and Union Territory governments. The goal is to build state-level capacity for generating localised data at the district and million-plus city levels. MoSPI will assist local administrations in compiling disaggregated estimates for flagship national surveys (such as PLFS, HCES, and ASUSE) as well as State and District GDP.
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8th Economic Census (EC): Conducted in collaboration with States and UTs, the 8th Economic Census will capture detailed data on non-farm establishments and hired workers down to the Gram Panchayat and Ward levels. This massive undertaking will establish a comprehensive baseline for the unorganised sector, paving the way for a National Statistical Business Register (SBR) and improved GDP estimation models.
Fostering Innovation and Youth Participation
Beyond system integration and data governance, the VISTAR initiative places a strong emphasis on capacity building. MoSPI will introduce specialised internship programs for students and fund research proposals from academic institutions, creating fresh avenues for researchers and youth to contribute directly to national policymaking.
By breaking down data silos, enhancing privacy by design, and establishing machine-readable, interoperable datasets, the VISTAR scheme sets the foundation for evidence-based governance across all levels of Indian administration.
