Date: 2026-04-16Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Interaction of Secretary, MoSPI and Member (HR), Capacity Building Commission with the Officer Trainees of 2024, 2025 and 2026 Indian Statistical Service batches at NSSTA
**Executive Summary**
The National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA) held a review meeting on April 16, 2026, for Indian Statistical Service (ISS) officer trainees from the 2024, 2025, and 2026 batches. The session focused on the Ministry’s transformational reforms, emphasizing field-oriented training and the strategic deployment of young officers to lead Sub-Regional Offices (SROs). Key discussions centered on ethical leadership, data quality improvement, and the integration of advanced technologies into the statistical framework.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Training and Curriculum Reforms**
* The ISS training curriculum has been transformed into a field-oriented, project-based, and competency-driven program.
* Training now emphasizes the use of advanced technologies and the integration of theoretical knowledge with ground realities.
* The framework is designed to equip officers with the skills necessary to strengthen the Indian Statistical System at the district level.
**Strategic Field Deployment**
* A policy initiated with the 2023 batch mandates the deployment of ISS officers to field positions during the early stages of their careers.
* With the induction of the 2025 batch, approximately 90 out of 120 SROs nationwide will be headed by young officers.
* This leadership shift aims to improve data quality, enhance institutional infrastructure, and usher in a new era of proactive administration.
**Operational Initiatives**
* Trainees have initiated efforts to streamline record management and enhance operational efficiency at the field level.
* Proactive coordination with local and district administrations is being prioritized to strengthen primary data collection.
**Ethical Leadership and Governance**
* A dedicated session on "Ethical Leadership and Values in Public Service" emphasized integrity, accountability, and citizen-centric governance.
* Officers were encouraged to adopt the spirit of "Sewabhav" (service), "Karma Yoga," and "Samatva" (equanimity) to navigate administrative challenges.
**Impact Analysis**
**ISS 2024 Batch**
**Impact**
These officers have completed their probationary training, including six months of field posting in SROs, and have begun implementing operational improvements.
**Action Required**
They must continue to leverage their field experience to streamline record management and maintain effective coordination with district authorities.
**ISS 2025 Batch**
**Impact**
Having completed one year of institutional training, these officers are transitioning to lead SROs across the country.
**Action Required**
They are required to take charge of approximately 90 SROs to improve data quality and strengthen the primary data collection framework.
**ISS 2026 Batch**
**Impact**
As new joiners (as of 06.04.2026), they are at the commencement of their training journey and were introduced to the Ministry's strategic vision.
**Action Required**
They must engage with the new competency-driven curriculum and participate in mentorship opportunities with senior officials and preceding batches.
**NSSTA and MoSPI Leadership**
**Impact**
Responsible for driving organizational reforms and capacity building across the statistical service.
**Action Required**
The leadership must continue to oversee the transition to a technology-heavy, project-based training model and ensure the successful deployment of officers to field positions.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI): The nodal ministry undertaking transformational reforms of the Indian statistical system, including curriculum changes and organizational restructuring.
Indian Statistical Service (ISS): The specialized civil service cadre whose officer trainees are undergoing a new field-oriented, project-based, and competency-driven training program.
National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA): The primary training institution responsible for implementing the revamped curriculum and conducting review meetings for ISS probationary batches.
Field Operations Division (FOD): The division where junior ISS officers are being strategically deployed to head Sub-Regional Offices (SROs) to improve primary data collection and leadership.
Capacity Building Commission (CBC): The body responsible for the ethical and professional development of officers, emphasizing values of integrity and citizen-centric governance through the 'Karmyogi' framework.
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
Interaction of Secretary, MoSPI and Member
(HR), Capacity Building Commission with the
Officer Trainees of 2024, 2025 and 2026 Indian
Statistical Service batches at NSSTA
Posted On: 16 APR 2026 9:34PM by PIB Delhi
The National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA) organized a review meeting for officers of
the Indian Statistical Service (ISS) 2024 batch, who have completed their probationary training, including
six months of field posting in Sub-Regional Offices (SROs) under the Field Operations Division (FOD) of
the National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
The meeting also included officers of the ISS 2025 batch, who have completed one year of institutional
training and are set to be posted to the SROs under the FOD, as well as officers of the ISS 2026 batch,
who recently joined the service on 06.04.2026.
Shri R. Rajesh, Additional Director General, Capacity Development Division, MoSPI, welcomed Dr.
Saurabh Garg, Secretary, MoSPI, and Ms. Puja Singh Mondal, Additional Secretary, MoSPI, and thanked
them for taking time out of their busy schedules to address the probationers.
Stating that organizational reforms, capacity building, and outreach to stakeholders are major components
of the transformational reforms of the Indian statistical system being undertaken by the senior leadership
of the Ministry, he also delineated that the training programme has been transformed into a more field-
oriented, project-based, and competency-driven curriculum, with an emphasis on advanced technologies.The proceedings featured a detailed feedback session by the 2025 batch, where Mr. Mridul Maheshwari
and Ms. Tulika Garg presented a detailed account of the current training framework. They mentioned that
the training programme has equipped the officer trainees with the essential skill set to strengthen the
Indian Statistical System right from the district level.
Officer Trainees of the 2024 batch of the Indian Statistical Service, Ms. Saumya Mishra and Ms. Agrima
Rastogi, highlighted the critical role of the Field Operations Division in strengthening India’s primary data
collection framework. They brought out key learnings from field visits, administrative functioning, andsurvey implementation, reflecting the integration of theoretical training with ground realities. Notably, the
officers showcased proactive initiatives in strengthening coordination with local administration,
streamlining record management, and enhancing operational efficiency at the field level.
This event served as the first occasion for the ISS 2026 batch to engage with the senior officers before the
commencement of their training journey.
Ms. Puja Singh Mondal, Additional Secretary, MoSPI welcomed the probationers of the 2026 batch into
the service and motivated the officers of 2024 and 2025 batch for imparting crucial role in strengthening
the Indian Statistical System. She also complimented NSSTA for taking new initiatives to strengthen
capacity building.
In his keynote address, the Secretary re-emphasized the strategic vision of deploying ISS officers to field
positions during the initial phase of their careers, a policy initiated with the 2023 batch. He noted that,
with the induction of the 2025 batch, approximately 90 out of 120 SROs nationwide will now be headed
by young officers—a move intended to usher in a new era of leadership while improving data quality and
institutional infrastructure. He also appreciated the proactiveness of the ISS 2024 batch for their effective
coordination with district authorities.In the afternoon session, Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, Member (Human Resource), Capacity Building
Commission (CBC), addressed the 93 Officer Trainees of the Indian Statistical Service (ISS) 2024, 2025,
and 2026 batches on “Ethical Leadership and Values in Public Service,” focusing on integrity,
accountability, and citizen-centric governance.
In his talk, Dr. Balasubramaniam, drawing from Indic wisdom, emphasized the importance of ethical
decision-making, empathetic and servant leadership in the spirit of Sewabhav towards citizens,
detachment and Drishtibhav (observer perspective), and public service in the spirit of Karma Yoga and
Samatva. The session aimed to strengthen the ethical foundation of officer trainees by fostering Sewabhav
and the spirit of Karmyogi, equipping them with the mindset and values needed to navigate complex
administrative challenges with integrity, professionalism, and a deep sense of public duty.
The event at NSSTA successfully provided a collaborative platform for all the batches to interact with one
another and engage in meaningful discussions with senior officials from the Ministry and the Field
Operations Division, thereby fostering a spirit of learning and mentorship.
***
Samrat/pranab
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