BS EDIT: State of informal economy

By Business StandardPublished On Sep 23, 2026

A new geographic lens

The first district-level Asuse estimates cover 757 districts, offering a sharper view of establishments, employment and value creation in India’s unincorporated economy

Size is not value

Uttar Pradesh leads in establishments and workers, but Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu generate a larger share of GVA relative to their enterprise base

Economic activity is concentrated

Just 130 districts account for half of establishments, while only 95 account for half of GVA. Economic value is more concentrated than enterprises or employment

Productivity varies sharply

Rangareddy records higher GVA per establishment and worker than Pune. Such differences reflect varying industry mixes, capital intensity and local economic conditions

Diverse labour markets

Annual emolument per hired worker varies widely across districts, showing that India’s unincorporated sector encompasses very different local labour markets

Policy must go local

Women account for at least a third of workers in 237 districts. The diversity in participation, remuneration and value creation makes district-level policy essential