Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 2: India will host the Meeting of Heads of National Statistical Offices (NSOs) of BRICS countries in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, from August 3 to 4 under its BRICS Chairship 2026, with discussions set to focus on strengthening statistical cooperation, innovation and data quality.
According to an official statement, the meeting will bring together representatives from Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The initiative is part of India's BRICS Chairship, which is guided by the theme, "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability (BRICS)."
Under the BRICS Statistics Track, India has adopted the theme "Quality Statistics as Driver of Change," highlighting its commitment to improving data quality, fostering innovation, ensuring effective dissemination and building people-centric statistical systems capable of meeting the growing demand for high-frequency, granular and reliable official data for evidence-based, sustainable and inclusive development.
The statement said robust statistical systems have become central to policymaking within BRICS by enabling governments to monitor development, formulate policies and strengthen cooperation. Since 2010, BRICS nations have jointly published the Joint Statistical Publication (JSP), while the Snapshot BRICS JSP, introduced in 2020, provides harmonised and easily accessible statistical data. Over the years, cooperation has expanded beyond data compilation to include harmonisation of standards, innovation and improved statistical practices for policymakers, researchers and the public.
As part of the annual BRICS Statistics Track, two key meetings are held every year, including a technical meeting of NSOs and the meeting of heads of NSOs. The technical meeting for 2026 was held on April 16-17 to finalise the framework for the Joint Statistical Publication and Snapshot BRICS JSP 2026, allocate responsibilities among member countries and establish timelines for contributions.
The BRICS Statistics Track seeks to strengthen core statistical publications, promote reforms and innovation in national statistical systems, improve data dissemination and accessibility, and enhance macroeconomic and sectoral statistics across member nations.
The Lucknow meeting is expected to further strengthen cooperation among participating countries through discussions on statistical dissemination, innovation in statistical systems, and the exchange of knowledge, expertise and best practices.
In addition to the main meeting, two half-day side events will be organised with participation from national statistical offices, policymakers, academia, think tanks, civil society organisations and technical experts. The discussions will focus on "Unlocking the Potential of Administrative Data" and "AI Readiness in the Evolving Data Ecosystem."