GS2 – Governance
Context
India is set to conduct its first-ever standalone Household Income Survey in February 2026, addressing long-standing gaps in income data crucial for targeted policy formulation.
About the Household Income Survey
- Implementing Agency:
The survey will be conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). - Distinct from Consumption Expenditure Surveys:
While the Consumption Expenditure Survey (CES) estimates poverty indirectly through spending patterns, the upcoming income survey will directly capture household income. - Historical Background:
Previous attempts in the 1950s, 1960s, and in 1983–84 failed due to methodological weaknesses and unreliable self-reported income data. - Survey Framework:
An 8-member expert group, led by Surjit S. Bhalla, is currently designing the framework.
Plans include cross-verification with tax data to reduce misreporting and improve data integrity.
Objectives of the Survey
- Bridging the Data Gap:
Provide credible and disaggregated income data for both urban and rural households. - Policy Feedback Mechanism:
Assess the effectiveness of government schemes and economic reforms. - Targeted Welfare Delivery:
Facilitate evidence-based targeting of social safety nets and direct benefit transfers. - Inform Tax Policy:
Help detect underreported incomes and shape progressive and equitable tax reforms. - Granular Insights:
Generate detailed, stratified income statistics to assist state- and sector-specific policymaking.
Challenges in Conducting the Survey
- Informality in Income:
A large portion of Indian income is unrecorded, seasonal, or comes from multiple informal sources. - Risk of Underreporting:
Fear of tax scrutiny may lead households to understate actual income levels. - Rural Complexity:
Rural households often rely on diverse and seasonal income streams, making accurate reporting difficult. - Privacy Concerns:
Balancing the need for transparency with confidentiality protections is a delicate task. - Seasonal Variation:
Income levels fluctuate significantly across seasons, especially in agriculture and informal jobs. - Non-Response Risk:
Survey fatigue or mistrust may result in low participation, skewing the data.