The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is an executive ministry of the Government of India, functioning as the nodal institution for the country's official statistical system and for monitoring government programs. It was created as an independent ministry on October 15, 1999, by merging the erstwhile Department of Statistics and the Department of Programme Implementation. This merger was intended to centralize statistical coordination and programme oversight, addressing the need for a robust, systematic data infrastructure to support evidence-based policy-making.
MoSPI operates through two main wings: the Statistics Wing and the Programme Implementation Wing. The Statistics Wing, now called the National Statistical Office (NSO), is responsible for compiling national accounts like Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), and for conducting large-scale sample surveys. The Programme Implementation Wing monitors the execution of central sector infrastructure projects costing ₹150 crore and above, and oversees schemes like the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) and the Twenty Point Programme.
A significant recent change occurred in May 2019, when the government ordered the merger of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) to form the National Statistical Office (NSO). The rationale for this restructuring was to integrate data collection (NSSO's function) and compilation (CSO's function) under one umbrella to improve coordination, reduce duplication, and enhance the credibility of Indian statistics.
MoSPI's work is legally connected to the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, which provides the legal framework for the systematic collection of statistics on economic, demographic, social, scientific, and environmental aspects. This Act, which came into force on June 11, 2010, empowers the appropriate government to appoint statistics officers and mandates cooperation from informants, while also prescribing penalties for non-compliance. MoSPI also connects to the National Statistical Commission (NSC), an autonomous body formed in 2006 to oversee the technical aspects of statistical work.