The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will convene a National Level Consultative Workshop on “Using Administrative Data for Governance: Harmonizing Departmental Data at State Level” on February 24, 2026, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The workshop marks a key step toward building a structured national framework for better use of administrative data in governance.
Preparing for the Data for Development Summit
The consultative workshop forms part of the preparatory process for the National-Level Deliberative Summit titled “Data for Development,” scheduled for April 2026. The summit aims to advance a structured agenda for strengthening administrative data systems and promoting responsible data harmonization across departments at the State and UT level.
This initiative follows the 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries held in December 2025, where the importance of data-driven governance and inter-departmental coordination was emphasized.
Focus on Harmonizing Departmental Data
Administrative data generated by government departments plays a critical role in policy formulation, service delivery and monitoring of development outcomes. However, fragmented data systems often limit effective coordination and evidence-based decision-making.
The upcoming workshop seeks to address these challenges by encouraging harmonization of departmental datasets. Discussions will revolve around creating interoperable systems, ensuring data quality, and enabling seamless integration across sectors.
Experts are expected to present successful use cases that demonstrate how harmonized administrative data can improve governance efficiency and transparency.
Engaging States and Union Territories
Officers from Planning and IT Departments of States and UTs will play a central role in the deliberations. The workshop aims to brief them on the objectives, scope and key themes to be discussed in subsequent State-level internal workshops.
Inputs gathered from these State-level consultations will be consolidated and presented at the April 2026 national summit to identify priority reform areas.
Building a National Data Reform Agenda
The consultative process is designed to create a shared roadmap for improving administrative data governance in India. By promoting standardisation and responsible data sharing practices, MoSPI seeks to strengthen evidence-based policymaking.
The initiative also aligns with broader efforts to modernise public administration through digital transformation and data-driven governance frameworks.
As India continues to expand digital governance systems, harmonizing administrative data across departments is expected to enhance coordination, improve service delivery and strengthen accountability mechanisms at all levels of government.
