The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved several initiatives covering statistical reforms, critical minerals, judicial infrastructure, energy storage and defence recruitment. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decisions during a Cabinet briefing in New Delhi.

The Cabinet approved a five-year scheme worth ₹4,371 crore to modernise India's official data collection system, improve statistical quality and make data more accessible for policymaking at the central and state levels. The Viksit Bharat Initiative for Statistical Transformation, Analytics and Research (VISTAR) will run from FY 2027 to 2031. It will use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to improve data processing and analysis.

Under VISTAR, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation plans to conduct 59 surveys during the 16th Finance Commission cycle, compared to 43 major surveys in the previous cycle. The initiative will introduce new indicators, including the Headline Index of Services Production and the Index of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises. It will also use alternative data sources such as mobile phone records, scanner data and e-commerce information alongside traditional surveys.

The scheme will cover the eighth Economic Census, which will collect information on non-farm establishments and their workers at gram panchayat and ward levels. The data will support creation of a National Statistical Business Register. The Centre will also provide financial and technical assistance to states and Union territories to improve district-level data collection.

The Cabinet also approved a ₹2,814 crore capital expenditure support scheme to promote critical mineral processing in India. The scheme will run from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31 and cover 24 identified critical minerals from mined and recycled sources. It aims to prepare these minerals for use in manufacturing sectors such as semiconductors, batteries, electronics, defence equipment and heavy machinery.

Vaishnaw said the aim is to bring raw critical minerals, whether from mining or recycling, into a condition ready for manufacturing.

In another decision, the Cabinet approved increasing the number of fast-track courts from the existing 779 to 850. The additional courts will focus on cases involving child abuse and rape.