New Delhi: The National Statistics Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), will organise the 36-hour Grand Finale of STATATHON – A Data Journey for Viksit Bharat on 17-18 June 2026 at the campus of Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS), Faridabad.
The STATATHON initiative is being conducted in collaboration with the Innovation Cell of the Ministry of Education and marks the third hackathon in the series organised by NSO, India.
Modernising the national statistical ecosystem through emerging technologies and collaboration with academia, industry and start-ups has been one of the priority areas of MoSPI.
As an organisation committed to building a robust and future-ready statistical system, the ministry has been fostering an innovation ecosystem around frontier technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to enable intelligent analytics at scale.
Through STATATHON, NSO aims to accelerate technology-driven transformation in the official statistical system.
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The national-level STATATHON hackathon focuses on harnessing Artificial Intelligence and modern digital technologies to solve challenges directly relevant to India’s official statistical ecosystem.
Five problem statements have been identified to encourage innovative and scalable solutions.
- AI-Powered Smart Survey Tool for Survey Data Collection
The first challenge under STATATHON seeks to enhance the efficiency, accuracy and quality of survey data collection through intelligent questionnaire administration, real-time validation, automated monitoring and multilingual capabilities.
- Automated Data Preparation, Estimation and Report Writing
The second problem statement aims to reduce the time and effort involved in statistical processing of survey data while enabling faster generation of reliable estimates and analytical reports through automation.
- Data Encryption and Anonymisation for NSS Unit-Level Data
Another focus area of STATATHON involves evaluating and enhancing data encryption and anonymisation methods adopted for NSS unit-level data while developing an improved encryption and anonymisation tool.
The objective is to strengthen data privacy, confidentiality and secure dissemination while maximising research utility.
- API Gateway for SQL Queries on Survey Datasets
The fourth challenge calls for creating an API gateway capable of running SQL queries on survey datasets and retrieving results in user-friendly formats such as JSON.
The solution is expected to facilitate customised access to official statistics, promote interoperability and support evidence-based decision-making.
- AI-Enabled Semantic Search for National Classification of Occupations
The fifth problem statement under STATATHON focuses on developing an AI-enabled semantic search for the National Classification of Occupations (NCO) to improve discoverability and usability through natural language-based search capabilities.
The hackathon has generated significant enthusiasm among students and start-ups across India, receiving more than 5,000 submissions from innovators representing leading educational institutions and emerging enterprises.
The overwhelming response highlights growing interest in leveraging technology for public sector innovation through STATATHON.
During the first phase of evaluation, 50 teams—10 teams for each problem statement—were shortlisted and mentored by domain and technical experts to help develop viable and practical solutions.
Following a rigorous evaluation process involving experts from government and industry, 25 finalist teams have been selected for the 36-hour Grand Finale, with five teams representing each problem statement.
Among the 25 finalists participating in STATATHON, 21 teams represent academic institutions while four teams are start-ups, reflecting strong collaboration between education and entrepreneurship in solving national challenges.
Throughout the Grand Finale, participants will work intensively under the guidance of mentors and experts from NSO, academia and industry to develop innovative, scalable and impactful solutions.
The event will conclude on 18 June 2026 with presentations by the finalist teams and the announcement of winners.
Through STATATHON, NSO seeks to foster innovation, strengthen collaboration among government, academia and industry, and harness the power of emerging technologies to further strengthen India’s official statistical system in support of the vision of Viksit Bharat.
