Miscellaneous Schemes under Ministry of SPI
Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS) Scheme
Introduction – The Context
In governance, data is power. Reliable statistics are the backbone of planning, policymaking, and evaluation. But in India, there has always been a gap in statistical capacity at the state level—many states/UTs lack funds, trained staff, and proper infrastructure for data collection and analysis.
To address this, the Government launched the Support for Statistical Strengthening (SSS) Scheme.
Aim
The central aim of SSS is very straightforward:
➡️ To improve the statistical capacity and operations of State Statistical Systems.
This means:
- Helping states collect, compile, and disseminate reliable official statistics.
- Filling the gap where state governments cannot fund important statistical activities.
- Supporting statistical activities of national importance identified by the Centre.
Implementing Mechanism
- The scheme is implemented through State Directorates of Economics & Statistics (DES).
- DES is the nodal agency at the state level that carries out statistical surveys, data compilation, and coordination with the Centre.
Special Feature
- The SSS Scheme is not a standalone scheme.
👉 It is actually a sub-scheme under the Capacity Development Scheme.
This reflects the broader vision of capacity building in India’s statistical system, both at the Centre and the states.
Significance
- Ensures uniformity and reliability of statistics across states.
- Strengthens evidence-based policy formulation.
- Reduces dependence on outdated or inconsistent data.
- Helps in national-level planning by integrating state-level statistics.