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 to modernise India’s official statistical system. The scheme will run from financial year 2026-27 to 2030-31 and will be implemented by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
Aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, VISTAR is designed to build a dynamic, real-time and future-ready official statistical architecture, with better timeliness and granularity of data, interoperability between datasets, and harmonised datasets ready for artificial intelligence-based analysis. The scheme will cover all statistical and data management activities of MoSPI, giving the ministry flexibility to allocate resources according to evolving policy needs, from large-scale survey execution and methodological research to digital transformation and national data governance.
The scheme has three components — comprehensive statistical operations and strengthening of the ecosystem, support for statistical strengthening of states, and the Economic Census. Under the first component, MoSPI plans to conduct 59 surveys during the 16th Finance Commission cycle, compared with 43 major surveys conducted earlier. The ministry will also undertake the 8th Economic Census in collaboration with states and Union Territories, collecting granular information on non-farm establishments and the workers they employ, down to the gram panchayat and ward level. That data helps planners at the national and state levels and feeds into estimates of the unorganised sector’s contribution to the economy.
The same Cabinet meeting approved a Rs 2,814 crore capital expenditure support scheme to promote domestic processing of critical minerals such as lithium and nickel, taking the combined outlay of the two decisions to Rs 7,185.10 crore. It also approved the continuation of the Fast Track Special Courts scheme, including exclusive POCSO courts, till March 2031 with an outlay of Rs 3,788.04 crore. Together, the decisions show the Modi government’s push to strengthen the data and institutional backbone on which policy is made — better statistics, faster justice delivery and secure supplies of minerals that power clean energy and electronics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the VISTAR scheme?
A: The Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics and Research — a central scheme to modernise India’s official statistical system.
Q: How much money is allocated for the VISTAR scheme?
A: Rs 4,371.10 crore for financial years 2026-27 to 2030-31.
Q: What is the 8th Economic Census under VISTAR?
A: A count of non-farm establishments and workers down to the gram panchayat and ward level, carried out with states and Union Territories.
Q: Which ministry will implement the VISTAR scheme?
A: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
Next Action: Read about another central-state scheme — the Uttar Pradesh One District One Cuisine scheme with up to Rs 50 lakh margin money: https://www.viksitharyana.com/english/uttar-pradesh-one-district-one-cuisine-odoc-scheme-50-lakh-margin-money/
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