NEW DELHI: In a landmark move to modernize India’s statistical infrastructure, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has launched a series of digital initiatives aimed at enhancing data accessibility, capacity building, and technological integration within the official statistical system.
At the recently held Conference of State Government Ministers, MoSPI unveiled a revamped Microdata Portal—a significant upgrade that promises improved user experience, broader accessibility, and seamless integration of national statistical datasets. Developed in collaboration with the World Bank Technology Team, the new portal addresses long-standing technological limitations of its predecessor by adopting a modern, scalable tech stack, ensuring adherence to advanced security standards and enabling responsive design for ease of access across devices.
Also launched was the official website of the National Statistical System Training Academy (NSSTA), aimed at consolidating information related to capacity-building efforts of the ministry in one place. The in-house developed platform, available at www.nssta.gov.in, will streamline access to training resources and initiatives designed to upskill personnel across the statistical ecosystem.
Adding to the momentum of innovation, MoSPI introduced a Proof of Concept (PoC) for an AI/ML-based classification tool that simplifies the usage of the National Industrial Classification (NIC). Developed as a result of a recent ministry-led hackathon, the tool employs Natural Language Processing (NLP) to interpret text inputs and recommend the top five most relevant NIC codes. This significantly reduces manual efforts by enumerators, improves classification accuracy, and boosts the efficiency of data collection—crucial for effective planning and evidence-based policymaking.
Speaking at the event, officials emphasized that these initiatives mark a strategic push toward a more data-driven governance framework, enabling context-specific interventions and bolstering the vision of Viksit Bharat.
With these innovations, MoSPI reinforces its commitment to leveraging technology for smarter data management, thereby strengthening India’s statistical system and ensuring that the country remains aligned with global best practices in public data use and dissemination, an official release said on Monday.
