It is one of the 26 permanent institutes of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi and has been known as National Institute for Research in Digital Health and Data Science(NIRDHDS) from 10th April 2024. The erstwhile National Institute for Research in Medical Statistics (NIMS) came into existence in the year 2005 before it known as Institute for research in medical statistics(IRMS) came into existence in the year 1977 the mandate to provide technical expertise on research methodology, programme evaluation, mathematical modelling, data analysis etc. It also provides technical assistance to institutes throughout india.

The tremendous involvement in the areas of medical digital health and data science, bio-medical and bio-behavioral research, surveillance of communicable and non-communicable diseases, epidemiology, nutrition research, reproductive and child health and cancer research necessitated the renaming of the IRMS as NIMS and NIMS as NIRDHDS. The move enhanced not only the status of the Institute but also enabled it to develop e-database of health sector reforms in India apart from strengthening its resources base and capacity building.

The Institute provides digital health and data science back up for designing and analysis of disease surveillance, clinical trials of drugs and vaccines and RCH. It provides valuable inputs to the estimation of HIV infection in India. It has examined access and utilization of AYUSH in general population and population covered under CGHS. Exercising surveillance of ICMR's various research programmes for ensuring digital data adequacy and validity is one the important areas from its mandate. Organizing training programmes in the areas of research methodology in biomedical research has been the feature of the Institute. In fact, it is the only Institute for research in digital health and data science India.