The Union Cabinet cleared the five-year central sector scheme on November 4 to expand surveys, adopt AI-driven data processing and hold the 8th Economic Census.

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• The Union Cabinet approved the Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics & Research, or VISTAR, on November 4, 2026.
• VISTAR is a central sector scheme with an outlay of Rs 4,371.10 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31.
• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will implement the scheme.
• It has three components: comprehensive statistical operations and ecosystem strengthening, Support for Statistical Strengthening, and the Economic Census.
• MoSPI proposes 59 surveys during the 16th Finance Commission cycle, compared with 43 major surveys conducted earlier.
• The Economic Census component funds the 8th Economic Census, which MoSPI will conduct with states and Union Territories.
• The census will gather data on non-farm establishments, their economic activities and the workers they employ.
• The scheme aims to modernise data processing through AI, digitalisation and real-time data.
• It follows the Capacity Development scheme, which the Cabinet extended in February 2022 till March 31, 2026 with an outlay of Rs 3,179 crore.
• The scheme is framed around the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the approval, saying better data leads to better decisions and policies.

Tags: VISTAR, MoSPI, EconomicCensus