India to Host BRICS National Statistical Offices Meeting in Lucknow to Strengthen Data Cooperation

India will host the Meeting of Heads of National Statistical Offices (NSOs) of BRICS countries in Lucknow on August 3 and 4 under its BRICS Chairship 2026, bringing together senior statistical leaders from member nations to advance cooperation in official statistics, innovation and data dissemination. The meeting forms part of India’s broader BRICS agenda, which this year is guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability (BRICS)”.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) said the two-day gathering will focus on strengthening collaboration among BRICS members by improving statistical systems, encouraging innovation, promoting harmonised data practices and enhancing the accessibility of official statistics. Representatives from Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are expected to participate alongside Indian officials.

India Highlights ‘Quality Statistics as Driver of Change’

For the BRICS Statistics Track during its 2026 Chairship, India has adopted the theme “Quality Statistics as Driver of Change.” The theme reflects the country’s emphasis on improving data quality, expanding innovation within statistical systems, strengthening dissemination mechanisms and building people-centric statistical frameworks capable of supporting evidence-based governance.

According to MoSPI, reliable and harmonised statistics have become increasingly important for policymaking across BRICS economies. Comparable and high-quality data helps governments monitor development, formulate public policy and improve cooperation among member countries through a shared statistical foundation.

Focus on Expanding Statistical Cooperation Across BRICS

The upcoming meeting is expected to deepen cooperation among BRICS National Statistical Offices through knowledge-sharing, exchange of best practices and continued collaboration on official publications. Discussions will also examine reforms aimed at modernising statistical systems while improving the availability and accessibility of official data.

Officials are expected to deliberate on ways to strengthen cooperation in publishing statistical information, support innovation in statistical methodologies and encourage greater alignment across national statistical systems.

The Ministry noted that statistical cooperation within BRICS has gradually evolved beyond conventional data collection. Over the years, member countries have increasingly worked towards harmonising statistical standards, improving comparability of datasets and introducing innovations that make official statistics more useful for governments, researchers and the wider public.

Joint Statistical Publication Remains a Key Area of Collaboration

One of the major pillars of BRICS statistical cooperation has been the Joint Statistical Publication (JSP), which has been published collectively by BRICS countries since 2010. The publication serves as a consolidated source of statistical information contributed by member nations.

In 2020, BRICS also introduced the Snapshot BRICS Joint Statistical Publication, designed to present harmonised statistical indicators in a more accessible format for policymakers, researchers and citizens.

MoSPI said both publications continue to play an important role in strengthening statistical cooperation by providing comparable data across member countries and supporting informed policy discussions.

Technical Meeting Earlier This Year Prepared the Groundwork

Preparations for the Lucknow meeting began earlier this year during the Technical Meeting of National Statistical Offices held on April 16 and 17, 2026.

During those discussions, participating countries worked on the preparation of the Joint Statistical Publication 2026 and the Snapshot BRICS JSP 2026. Delegates developed a mutually agreed framework, assigned responsibilities among participating National Statistical Offices and established timelines for contributions from each country.

The upcoming meeting of Heads of National Statistical Offices is expected to build upon the outcomes of that technical engagement and provide strategic direction for future statistical cooperation.

Expected Outcomes Under the BRICS Statistics Track

According to the Ministry, the BRICS Statistics Track is expected to deliver progress across several priority areas that support long-term cooperation among member countries.

• Further strengthening the Joint Statistical Publication.
• Enhancing the Snapshot BRICS publication.
• Promoting innovation and reforms in national statistical systems.
• Improving dissemination and accessibility of official statistics.
• Strengthening macroeconomic and sectoral statistical frameworks.
• Encouraging closer cooperation among National Statistical Offices.

These initiatives are intended to support better statistical governance while ensuring official data remains relevant for evolving policy needs across BRICS economies.

Lucknow to Host Two Thematic Side Events

Alongside the main meeting, two half-day thematic sessions will bring together officials from National Statistical Offices with policymakers, academic institutions, think tanks, civil society organisations and technical experts.

The first side event, scheduled for August 3, will examine “Unlocking the Potential of Administrative Data”, focusing on how administrative datasets can strengthen official statistics and support evidence-based policymaking.

The second session, to be held on August 4, is titled “AI Readiness in the Evolving Data Ecosystem”. The discussion will explore the growing role of artificial intelligence in modern official statistical systems and examine how AI can support improvements in data quality, efficiency and dissemination.

Annual BRICS Statistics Meetings Continue to Expand Cooperation

The BRICS Statistics Track organises two major annual engagements: the Technical Meeting of National Statistical Offices and the Meeting of Heads of National Statistical Offices. Together, these platforms provide opportunities for member countries to coordinate statistical priorities, review collaborative publications and discuss emerging challenges facing official statistical systems.

India’s hosting of this year’s meeting in Lucknow reflects its focus on strengthening multilateral cooperation through reliable data, innovation and knowledge-sharing under its BRICS Chairship 2026.

As governments increasingly rely on evidence-based decision-making, the outcomes of the Lucknow discussions are expected to contribute to continued collaboration on statistical standards, improved data dissemination and stronger institutional partnerships across BRICS member countries.