India to Launch First Nationwide Household Income Survey

On 24th June 2025, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) announced the National Sample Survey’s first full-fledged Household Income Survey to be conducted in 2026.

Key Points

First of Its Kind: This will be NSS’s first dedicated survey on household income since its inception in 1950, addressing long-standing data limitations in income measurement.
Objective: Aims to assess income distribution and understand structural changes in India’s economy over the last 75 years.
Past Challenges: Earlier attempts in the 1950s–70s failed due to underreporting of income and mismatch with consumption and savings data.
Technical Oversight: A Technical Expert Group, chaired by Dr. Surjit S. Bhalla, will guide the survey using global best practices from countries like the US, Canada, and South Africa.
Broader Vision: Part of MoSPI’s push to upgrade India’s statistical systems, along with surveys on unincorporated sectors, capital expenditure, and tourism.
Digital Integration: The survey will incorporate digital tools for better data collection and accuracy in wage and income measurement.