Union Cabinet Approves VISTAR Scheme

Syllabus: GS2/Governance; GS3/Economy

Context

• Cabinet has approved the ‘Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics & Research’, VISTAR Scheme for 2026-27 to 2030-31.

About

• It is a central sector scheme to overhaul India’s official statistical system, bringing all of the statistics ministry’s survey, data and economic census work under one umbrella.
• Aim: To establish a dynamic, real-time and future-ready official statistical architecture for enhanced timeliness, data granularity, interoperability with harmonised and AI ready datasets.
• It will fund 59 surveys over the 16th Finance Commission cycle (FY27-FY31) to fill critical data gaps in various sectors.
  • It will also fund the long-delayed 8th Economic Census and a revamped programme of support to state statistical bureaus.
• The scheme has three components: comprehensive statistical operations and strengthening of the ecosystem; Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS) for states; and the Economic Census.
• First Component: Under this, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (Mospi) will digitise statistical processes and embed artificial intelligence and machine learning in data processing, validation and analysis.
• The ministry plans new measures, including a Headline Index of Services Production and an Index of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises. 
• It will also tap alternative sources such as mobile phone, scanner and e-commerce data to complement traditional surveys and ease the burden on respondents.
• Second Component: The central funds to states and Union Territories will be “deliverable-linked”. 
  • Mospi will help scale up district-level and million-plus city estimates in flagship surveys such as the Periodic Labour Force Survey, and in compiling state gross domestic product (GDP) and district GDP.
• Under the Economic Census (EC) component, MoSPI will undertake the 8th Economic Census (EC) in collaboration with the States / UTs.
  • It will provide granular data and activity details of all the non – farm establishments and workers hired, therein, upto Gram Panchayat and Ward level.
  • The economic census data will be useful for policy makers at national and sub-national levels, which will pave the way for estimating the contribution of the unorganized sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Significance

• VISTAR Scheme will encompass all statistical and data management activities of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. 
• It will play a crucial role for upgrading the official statistical system of the country.

Source: PIB