News Context

• The BRICS NSO Heads’ Meeting was held in New Delhi under India’s BRICS Presidency 2026.
• The meeting was chaired by SVC Sekhar, Chief Statistician of India and Secretary, MoSPI.
• All 10 BRICS member countries participated in the meeting.
• Key focus: harmonisation of statistical methodologies, sharing of best practices, and cooperation on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for statistics.

BRICS Statistical Cooperation — Key Facts for Prelims

• BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and five new members — Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and UAE (joined 2024).
• The BRICS Statistical Publication is a joint report compiling key economic and social indicators of all member nations.
• India’s MoSPI leads the BRICS statistical cooperation initiative during India’s BRICS Presidency 2026.
• BRICS nations collectively represent approximately 45% of the world’s population and 35% of global GDP (PPP).

National Statistical Office (India) — Concepts for Prelims

• NSO was formed in 2019 by merging the Central Statistical Office (CSO) and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
• Functions under MoSPI (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation).
• The Chief Statistician of India heads the NSO and serves as Secretary, MoSPI.
• NSO conducts the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), National Sample Surveys (NSS), and National Accounts Statistics (NAS).

News Context

• The Union Cabinet approved the Ujh Multipurpose Project in Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir, with a revised cost of approximately ₹12,490 crore.
• The project follows India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) after the Pahalgam terror attack in 2025.
• Part of India’s strategy to maximise utilisation of Eastern River waters (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) allocated to India under the IWT.

Key Facts for Prelims

• Ujh River is a tributary of the Ravi River, one of India’s Eastern Rivers under the IWT.
• Located in Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir.
• Involves construction of a dam and reservoir on the Ujh River.
• Implementing agency: NHPC (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation) in collaboration with the J&K government.
• DPR prepared by NHPC and cleared by the Central Water Commission (CWC).

Project Benefits