The chairman of the Committee for Reforming Capacity Building of the Indian Statistical Service (ISS), Sh. P. R. Meshram, Director General (Data Governance), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) submitted the Committee's report to Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI. This marks an important milestone toward strengthening the capacity-building framework for ISS officers. The Committee comprised senior MoSPI officers, knowledge partners, and industry experts.
The Committee reviewed existing ISS training programmes, identified emerging capacity building requirements, and recommended future-oriented training aligned with the Competency Based Capacity Building (CBCB) framework of Mission Karmayogi. The framework reflects the evolving role of ISS officers in data governance, advanced analytics, emerging technologies, and evidence-based policymaking, in alignment with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.
The report has been prepared through a consultative and evidence-based approach, drawing on the Statistical Training Needs Assessment, existing ISS training programmes, Mission Karmayogi frameworks, international best practices, Committee deliberations, and stakeholder consultations.
The Report presents a future oriented capacity building roadmap comprising three interconnected components. The System of Today, which reviews the existing ISS training ecosystem, capability area practices, and institutional arrangements at National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA). The System of Tomorrow, which establishes a role linked, competency based capacity-building framework covering seven priority capability pillars; and Strategic Recommendations giving actionable measures to transition from current to the envisioned future system to strengthening ISS training, develop future ready competencies, and enhance NSSTA's institutional capacity.
The report outlines an integrated framework comprising the ISS training ecosystem, capability pillars, and institutional architecture. It defines role expectations and assesses the competencies required for each role across functional, domain, and behavioral domains. The framework is to be anchored in the National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA), with an emphasis on strengthening human resources, training delivery, and governance to effectively implement training reforms.
Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI, complimented the Committee and the NSSTA team for their efforts and comprehensive, forward-looking recommendations. He reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening NSSTA as a pivotal training anchor for Indian Statistical Systems. Implementing these recommendations will directly fortify India's capacity-building structure, ensuring ISS officers remain fully equipped to handle next-generation data requirements and contribute toward the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.