India to revamp scheme for states’ statistical capacity

NEW DELHI: The government plans to revamp the Capacity Development Scheme to improve the statistical systems and capacity of states. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and the World Bank will give $30 million each for the scheme to augment resources and training capacity for bringing out key economic indicators, various socio-economic surveys, capacity building and strengthening statistical coordination.

“The World Bank team also made a brief presentation on the National Programme for Improving Quality of Statistics in India (NPIQSI), a project under preparation envisaging the assistance of World Bank under Investment Project Financing as a first phase,” the ministry said in a statement on Friday after it organized a one day workshop for strengthening of statistical system of states.

The overhaul comes in the wake of the government working on an umbrella information portal collating official data on employment, industry, health, GST and trade is in the works to put out timely, credible and user-friendly official data through a single window.


The scheme started in 2010 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a total outlay of Rs 650.43 crore of which 80% was funded from World Bank and rest from the Indian government.

“All this is for technical capacity building and training. It is still in the negotiation stage,” said an official in the know of the development. The project is likely to be a for a five year period.

In addition, India is also seeking the multilateral funding organisation’s assistance to strengthen the states’ systems. That project to cost around $250 million.

“Talks are on with the World Bank and this way we will get the best global practices,” the official said.

Funds are released to states for this purpose after detailed examination of their proposals.