Dr Saurabh Garg, Secretary of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA) as a key training institution for the Indian Statistical Service (ISS).

PR Meshram, Director General (Data Governance) at MoSPI and chairman of the Committee for Reforming Capacity Building of ISS officers, submitted the committee’s report to Dr Garg.

The committee included senior MoSPI officials, knowledge partners and industry experts. Dr Garg commended the committee and the NSSTA team for their efforts and comprehensive, forward-looking recommendations to prepare future-ready data leaders.

According to an official statement, implementing the recommendations will strengthen India’s capacity-building framework and equip ISS officers to meet emerging data requirements and contribute to the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.

The committee reviewed existing ISS training programmes, identified emerging skill requirements and recommended future-oriented training aligned with Mission Karmayogi’s Competency Based Capacity Building (CBCB) framework.

The proposed framework addresses the evolving responsibilities of ISS officers in data governance, advanced analytics, emerging technologies and evidence-based policymaking, supporting the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’.

The committee prepared the report through a consultative, evidence-based process. It drew on the Statistical Training Needs Assessment, existing ISS training programmes, Mission Karmayogi frameworks, international best practices, committee deliberations and stakeholder consultations, the statement said.

The report outlines a future-ready capacity-building roadmap built around three interconnected components.

The System of Today reviews the existing ISS training ecosystem, capability-building practices and institutional arrangements at NSSTA.

The System of Tomorrow establishes a role-linked, competency-based framework covering seven priority capability pillars.

Strategic Recommendations propose actionable measures to strengthen ISS training, develop future-ready competencies and enhance NSSTA’s institutional capacity, helping the academy transition to the envisioned system.

The report also presents an integrated framework covering the ISS training ecosystem, capability pillars and institutional architecture. It defines role-specific expectations and assesses the functional, domain-specific and behavioural competencies officers need to perform their duties effectively.