Strengthening Statistical Infrastructure: NSO and MoSPI's Efforts in Socio-Economic Surveys and Employment Analysis

The National Statistical Commission (NSC) supervises the development of PLFS methodology and oversees the release of its findings.

The National Statistics Office (NSO), operating under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), plays a crucial role in conducting sample surveys on various socio-economic subjects at the national level. The findings of these surveys, which cover indicators such as health, education, labour force, and economic planning, are made publicly available on the MoSPI website. These surveys are conducted under the Capacity Development (CD) Scheme of MoSPI, with a total Budget Estimate (BE) of Rs. 39,761.30 lakh allocated for the Financial Year 2024-25 under various Object Heads in the National Sample Survey (NSS) division.

Since 2017, the NSO has been conducting the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) to assess key employment and unemployment indicators, including Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate (UR). To enhance the accuracy and reliability of employment statistics, MoSPI employs robust mechanisms that are periodically refined based on evolving needs, feedback, and advancements in methodology.

A significant technological advancement in data collection has been the adoption of Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) and web-based applications, which incorporate in-built validation mechanisms to ensure data consistency at the collection stage. The real-time data entry and validation process through handheld devices have significantly improved efficiency, reduced manual errors, and facilitated timely data transmission. To maintain data quality, a rigorous training mechanism has been implemented to address conceptual queries and ensure proper monitoring.

The National Statistical Commission (NSC) supervises the development of PLFS methodology and oversees the release of its findings. MoSPI adheres to internationally accepted labour statistics standards while ensuring their relevance in the Indian context.

Additionally, the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO), in coordination with around 70 Ministries and Departments, has developed an Output Outcome Monitoring Framework (OOMF) for Central Sector (CS) and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS). The primary goal of OOMF is to strengthen the outcome-based monitoring of scheme performance against set targets.

To facilitate transparency and accountability, DMEO has developed an online dashboard where respective Ministries/Departments input periodic progress updates. This dashboard enables all stakeholders to track scheme performance effectively. Since its inception in September 2015, DMEO, under NITI Aayog, has completed 153 evaluation studies, sharing final reports and recommendations with administrative Ministries, the Department of Expenditure, and the Ministry of Finance. These recommendations are then integrated into the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) and Standing Finance Committee (SFC) notes prepared for scheme renewals.

The above information was shared by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Ministry of Planning, and Minister of State in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Rao Inderjit Singh, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.