Meeting of Heads of National Statistical Offices of BRICS Countries

The article details the first day of a two-day meeting of Heads of National Statistical Offices (NSO) of BRICS countries, chaired by India in Lucknow. Guided by India's theme "Quality Statistics as Driver of Change," the meeting focused on modernizing national statistical systems, utilizing administrative data and digital public infrastructure, and enhancing data governance and privacy standards. Representatives from BRICS member nations, including newly mentioned members like Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and UAE, reaffirmed their commitment to international cooperation for evidence-based policymaking and sustainable development. A draft BRICS Joint Statistical Publication (JSP), 2026 was released, and technical sessions covered data dissemination, transformational reforms, and unlocking the potential of administrative data.