Asian Business School, Noida, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India, on 27 February 2026 to undertake a nationally significant research initiative under the Ministry’s Grant-in-Aid Scheme for Capacity Development. The collaboration reflects a growing recognition that reliable and well-structured official statistics are indispensable for informed governance, efficient economic planning, and evidence-based decision-making in both the public and private sectors. Through this partnership, the research initiative will examine the economic value of official statistical systems and their role in enhancing financial efficiency in policy formulation, business strategy, cost optimisation, and institutional risk management.

The agreement was formally signed by Shri R. Rajesh, Additional Director General, MoSPI, on behalf of the Ministry, and Dr. Sarmistha Sarma on behalf of Asian Business School. The signing ceremony was attended by Shri Shivnath Singh Jadawat, Director, Training Unit, Capacity Development Division, MoSPI, whose presence underscored the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening statistical capacity and promoting institutional collaborations with academic partners. The event was also attended by Dr. Shweta Batra, Dean (Academics), Asian Business School, and Dr. Navita Gurbani, Associate Professor, both of whom highlighted the academic significance of integrating official statistical frameworks into research, teaching, and policy discourse.

The project undertaken under this MoU aims to generate systematic insights into how official statistics contribute to more efficient financial planning, improved market intelligence, and data-driven governance. By analysing the utilisation of official datasets across sectors the research will seek to demonstrate the tangible economic benefits derived from robust statistical infrastructure.

During the discussions, both institutions also explored the possibility of future collaboration in specialised training programmes and capacity-building initiatives. Such initiatives are expected to strengthen professional competencies in the use of official statistics among policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders. The partnership therefore represents an important step toward deepening the interface between academic research and national statistical systems, while contributing to evidence-based policy and sustainable economic development in India.