The NSO plans a separate sampling stratum for digital platform workers and new questions on unpaid household work, caregiving and labour underutilisation in the PLFS from 2027
An NSO study finds that in-kind welfare transfers helped 15.8 per cent of Indians move into higher consumption classes, with West Bengal recording the highest share among major states
India's unemployment rate remained stable at 5 per cent in September 2026, while urban unemployment edged up to 6.9 per cent, according to the NSO's Periodic Labour Force Survey.
Only 41.9 per cent of women workers commute 1 km or more for work, against 61.9 per cent of men, with the gender gap in commuting widest in rural India
Ten of 19 services sub-sectors posted double-digit growth in July, led by administrative and support services at 20.9 per cent, while two segments contracted
NSO's first district-level estimates show sharp geographic concentration in informal-sector productivity, while Telangana and the Northeast lead in women's participation
NSO proposes valuing marine fish resources through expected future resource rents, with stock sustainability and asset life determining their monetary value
Establishments and employment remained above year-ago levels but contracted sequentially, with rural India accounting for much of the decline in the June quarter
Retail inflation inched up to 3.48% in April as food prices rose further, while experts warned of indirect pressure from higher global energy costs and a potentially weak monsoon
India's first dedicated household income survey aims to fill a decades-old statistical gap, but experts warn that under-reporting, informal work and non-response could still distort the picture
From rising oil-linked risks and services data gaps to gold loan expansion and global capital flows, here are the key insights from Business Standard's Opinion page
