New Delhi: The National Statistics Office (NSO) has taken a key preparatory step towards India’s next major socio-economic data collection exercise by organizing an All-India Workshop of Trainers (AIWOT) for the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2026 and the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2026.
Senior Leadership and Nationwide Participation
The workshop will be inaugurated by Dr. Saurabh Garg, Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). Senior officers from various National Sample Survey (NSS) divisions are attending the programme.
Field functionaries from all Zonal, Regional, and Sub-Regional Offices of the Field Operations Division (FOD) are also participating. These officers will act as master trainers and subsequently conduct training programmes at zonal and regional levels across the country.
This cascading training model is designed to ensure uniform understanding of survey concepts, schedules, and digital data collection tools among thousands of field investigators.
Focus on ASUSE 2026
The Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2026 is dedicated to capturing the economic and operational characteristics of unincorporated, non-agricultural establishments across manufacturing, trade, and services sectors.
The unorganized sector forms a substantial part of India’s economy, contributing significantly to employment and value creation. Reliable data from ASUSE helps policymakers, ministries, researchers, and stakeholders understand enterprise performance, cost structures, and operational challenges.
Data for ASUSE 2026 will be collected using Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI), ensuring faster processing, improved accuracy, and reduced manual errors.
New Data Elements Introduced
From 2026 onwards, ASUSE will include additional data points related to inward transportation costs. These include transportation charges paid for procuring raw materials and other freight or cartage expenses incurred through rail, road, water, or air transport.
The inclusion of these variables is expected to offer deeper insights into input costs faced by unincorporated enterprises, particularly in an era of fluctuating fuel prices and logistics reforms.
PLFS 2026: Tracking India’s Labour Market
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), conducted annually since 2017, remains India’s primary source of official data on employment, unemployment, and labour force participation.
PLFS data plays a critical role in evidence-based policymaking, programme evaluation, and labour market research. Governments at both central and state levels rely heavily on its findings to design employment schemes and social protection measures.
From January 2026, PLFS Schedule 10.4 (FV) will incorporate modifications, including new questions related to platform and gig workers, reflecting the evolving nature of employment in India’s digital economy.
Nationwide Coverage with Limited Exceptions
Both ASUSE 2026 and PLFS 2026 will cover the entire Indian Union. The only exception will be certain villages in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands that remain inaccessible throughout the year due to geographical and logistical constraints.
The extensive coverage ensures representativeness and allows policymakers to track regional and sectoral trends with greater confidence.
Strengthening India’s Statistical Ecosystem
The All-India Workshop of Trainers is a crucial preparatory exercise to align field teams with survey objectives, definitions, and digital protocols. Such capacity-building initiatives are central to maintaining the credibility of India’s official statistics.
