Lok Sabha Question No. 4192 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-18
Subject: Strengthening Statistical Systems and Reforms in MPLAD Scheme
Ministry: STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
Asked by: Smt. Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, Shri Parbhubhai Nagarbhai Vasava, Shri Manoj Tiwari, Shri Vijay Baghel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4192

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026

STRENGTHENING STATISTICAL SYSTEMS AND REFORMS IN MPLAD

SCHEME

4192. SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL:

SMT. MALA RAJYA LAXMI SHAH:

SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA:

Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  various  measures  being  taken  to  strengthen  statistical systems at the State and District levels to support local governance;
- (b)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  proposes  to  upgrade  the governance framework of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) in the coming years;
- (c)  whether  any  changes  have  been  made  to  the  fund  flow  and implementation guidelines of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) to improve transparency;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the time by which the next phase of the Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS) sub-scheme is likely to be launched and primary objectives thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS  AND  PROGRAMME  IMPLEMENTATION;  MINISTER  OF STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  OF  THE  MINISTRY  OF  PLANNING; AND  MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  CULTURE  [RAO

INDERJIT SINGH]

(a):   To  strengthen  Statistical  System  at  State  &  District  level  to support local governance, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme

Implementation  (MoSPI)  provides  financial  support  to  States/UTs under the Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS) Sub-Scheme for development  of  State  and  District  Level  Indices/Indicators. MoSPI provides technical handholding to the States/UTs for compilation of sub-national level macroeconomic indicator which inter-alia includes organizing regional workshops, providing technical support through  Uniform  Guidelines  and  joint  discussion  on  comparable estimates  with  the  States/UTs. Also, MoSPI modified  the  sampling design  of  major  surveys  by  adopting  district  as  the  basic  stratum enabling states to generate district level estimates of key indicators for evidence-based policy-making. Further, National Statistical Systems  Training  Academy  (NSSTA)  a  premier  Central  Training Institute  under  MoSPI  organizes  different  training  programmes  on regular  basis  on  "Official  Statistics  and  related  fields"  including digital  tools,  data  analytics  and  data  governance  for  the  capacity building of the Statistical personnel of State/UT Governments.

(b):  The draft Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026 is prepared to introduce  a  comprehensive  new  legislation,  for  upscaling  the existing legislation ISI Act, 1959  to the level of governing legislations of other peer Institute of National Importance (INIs) such as Indian Institute of Technologies  (IITs)/ Indian Institute of Managements (IIMs) with the objective to overhaul and modernise of the Institute's governance framework by enhancing its autonomy and accountability.

The  draft  Bill  provides  for  incorporation  of  Indian  Statistical Institute  as  a  body  corporate  and  also  introduces  framework  of statutory bodies for effective governance. The Board of Governors will be an empowered and leaner body consisting of 11 members having a balanced representation of internal and external members. There would be only one government nominee on the Board, five external experts (including Chairperson) and five internal members of the Institute including two members of the Academic Council. This  would  provide  academic  and  governance  autonomy  to  the Institute.  The  draft  Bill  is  founded  upon  the  guiding  principles  of Excellence, Effective Governance, Autonomy and Accountability. Collectively,  the  above-mentioned  provisions  will strengthen and upgrade the governance framework of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI). (c) & (d):  As per the directions of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure  (DoE),  the  Members  of  Parliament  Local  Area Development  (MPLAD)  Scheme  was  implemented  through  Model  2 under the MPLAD Scheme with effect from 1 April 2023. Further, as per subsequent directions of the Ministry of Finance, vide their OM dated 21 May 2024, the MPLAD Scheme is shifted from Model-2 to Model-1A (TSA Hybrid) w.e.f. 1 April 2025. Under Model-1A, the Project  Management  Unit-  Central  Nodal  Agency (PMU-CNA)  of the  MPLAD  Scheme  has  opened  an  assignment  account  with  the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which is linked to the CNA's State Bank of India (SBI) account. Under this arrangement, a consolidated daily fund bills raised by vendors/implementing agencies during the day, is generated by SBI and electronically pushed to the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) for approval. Upon approval of the day's amount on PFMS, the SBI account receives the corresponding funds from the RBI assignment account, which is then directly transferred to the respective vendors. Under the revised fund flow system, all due authorizations of Hon'ble Members of Parliament are released simultaneously at the start of each financial year or at the beginning of their term, as applicable. Only  the  authorization  amount  moves  from  CNA  to  Implementing Agencies, and vendor payments are made directly on a "just-in-time" basis, thereby leaving no scope for parking of funds. The earlier preconditions  such  as  Utilization  Certificates  and  Monthly  Progress Reports have been removed, resulting in faster and more efficient fund management. Moreover, the Ministry has launched the eSAKSHI  portal for implementation of the Revised Fund Flow Procedures under MPLADS with  effect  from  1  April  2023.  The  portal  is  a  significant  initiative aimed at  enhancing  efficiency,  accountability  and  transparency  in managing MPLADS funds. It provides an integrated digital platform wherein recommendations of Hon'ble Members  of Parliament, district-level sanctioning, and execution by implementing agencies are seamlessly coordinated, ensuring a smooth and efficient

workflow. The transition to the digital system has streamlined fund releases, eliminated physical accounts, enabled Hon'ble Members of Parliament and all other stakeholders to recommend, monitor, and manage works online, and incorporated secure One-Time Password (OTP)-based  verification.  Real-time  tracking  of  works  and  fund utilization further strengthens transparency and accountability implementation. (e):  MoSPI  has  prepared  the  draft  Expenditure  Finance  Committee (EFC) Memorandum for the Capacity Development Scheme, including next phase of the Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS) SubScheme,  for  the  period  2026 -31.  The  primary  objectives  of  the scheme to strengthen State statistical systems, including adoption of modern data technologies, capacity building of statistical personnel, and development of robust sub-State indicators.

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