- The Union Cabinet approved the VISTAR scheme aimed at overhauling and modernizing India's statistical system. - The initiative focuses on upgrading data collection mechanisms, improving economic indicators, and enhancing the overall quality and reliability of official statistics. - It addresses institutional gaps and adapts to evolving needs of policy formulation and economic monitoring in India. - The scheme reinforces evidence-based governance by strengthening statistical infrastructure at various levels. - **VISTAR scheme:** A central sector initiative approved by the Union Cabinet to modernize India's official statistical system, enhance data timeliness, leverage AI, and support the 8th Economic Census. - **Union Cabinet:** The apex executive body of the Union government responsible for executive decisions, policy formulation, and administrative coordination in India. - **Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation:** The central nodal ministry responsible for planning, collection, compilation, and dissemination of official macroeconomic and socio-economic statistics in India. - **National Statistical Office:** The statistical wing of MoSPI responsible for large-scale socio-economic sample surveys, national accounts estimation, and official data dissemination in India. **Introduction** The Union Cabinet approved the VISTAR scheme to overhaul and modernize India's statistical system, enhancing data accuracy, institutional capacity, and evidence-based governance for policy formulation. **Core Issue and Detailed Points** - The Union Cabinet approved the VISTAR scheme aimed at overhauling and modernizing India's statistical system. - The initiative focuses on upgrading data collection mechanisms, improving economic indicators, and enhancing the overall quality and reliability of official statistics. - It addresses institutional gaps and adapts to evolving needs of policy formulation and economic monitoring in India. - The scheme reinforces evidence-based governance by strengthening statistical infrastructure at various levels. **Key Statutory Bodies, Acts & Concepts** - **VISTAR scheme:** A central sector initiative approved by the Union Cabinet to modernize India's official statistical system, enhance data timeliness, leverage AI, and support the 8th Economic Census. - **Union Cabinet:** The apex executive body of the Union government responsible for executive decisions, policy formulation, and administrative coordination in India. - **Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation:** The central nodal ministry responsible for planning, collection, compilation, and dissemination of official macroeconomic and socio-economic statistics in India. - **National Statistical Office:** The statistical wing of MoSPI responsible for large-scale socio-economic sample surveys, national accounts estimation, and official data dissemination in India.