Key Details
The Cabinet has approved the Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics & Research (VISTAR) for FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31, with an outlay of ₹4,371.10 crore. Its three components cover national data production, state capacity and a new count of non-farm establishments.
National statistics: MoSPI proposes 59 surveys during the 16th Finance Commission cycle, compared with 43 major surveys conducted previously. It also plans a Headline Index of Services Production and an Index of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises.
State and local statistics: A redesigned, deliverable-linked Support for Statistical Strengthening programme (SSS 2.0) will fund state and UT statistical capacity. MoSPI plans technical support for more district-level and million-plus-city estimates.
Economic Census: The eighth Economic Census will collect information on non-farm establishments and their workers down to the Gram Panchayat and ward levels. Its data are intended to underpin a National Statistical Business Register for future enterprise surveys.
More Surveys Would Fill Gaps in Economic Measurement
The proposed survey expansion is intended to produce more timely and detailed evidence across sectors. Planned indices for services and unincorporated enterprises would add regular measures of activities that are difficult to track through conventional industrial statistics.
VISTAR also supports end-to-end digitalisation of statistical work. MoSPI intends to use AI and machine learning primarily for data processing, validation and analysis, and to examine mobile-phone, retail-scanner and e-commerce data as supplements to surveys—not replacements for them.
State Funding Is Tied to More Detailed Local Data
Under SSS 2.0, states and UTs would receive funding linked to statistical deliverables. MoSPI plans to help generate district and million-plus-city estimates from major surveys, including those covering employment, household consumption and unincorporated enterprises. It will also support state and district economic-output estimates and state-level industrial production measures.
That local detail matters because a statewide average can conceal substantial differences between districts or cities. The scheme’s contribution will depend on whether the resulting figures are produced consistently and regularly enough to inform decisions.
The Economic Census Would Support Future Enterprise Surveys
The eighth Economic Census is intended to map non-farm establishments and their workers, including activity in the unorganised economy. Unlike a population census, it counts places of economic activity. Its results would form the starting point for a National Statistical Business Register — a maintained list that can help statisticians select and update samples for later enterprise surveys.
Policy Relevance
VISTAR funds a shift towards more usable local economic evidence. District labour and consumption estimates could help governments see needs that statewide figures obscure, while a reliable business register could improve how small enterprises are surveyed.
The larger volume of data will be valuable only if MoSPI and states maintain comparable methods, quality checks and publication schedules. Bringing commercial digital data into statistical work also makes representativeness and privacy safeguards important. Cabinet approval establishes the scheme and its funding; the proposed surveys, indices and census outputs still have to be delivered.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will MoSPI and states ensure that new district-level estimates are comparable, regularly updated and reliable enough to guide public decisions?
Follow the Full Press Release Here: Cabinet Approves VISTAR Scheme for 2026–27 to 2030–31