Reading between the lines: The PLFS survey

Given that household-level secondary education was not readily available from Census 2011, the PLFS survey might have used some proxies

The much-awaited release of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) is a sheer delight for researchers. However, a close look at the data raises several questions. This is important if India were to seriously find a solution to take advantage of its demographic dividend rather than nit picking at the data.

First, the questionnaire needs to be redrafted. We are in a new economy where jobs and earnings are incongruous. For example, the PLFS survey (block 5.1) directly asks the question of the status of employment of the household as per his/her profession. Given that employment in India means a permanent