Statistics ministry to conduct first-ever household income survey in 2026

• MoSPI to conduct India’s first nationwide Household Income Survey in 2026.

• Will measure household income and assess impact of technology on wages.

• Income data collection tried in 1950s, 1960s, and 1980s, but abandoned due to unreliable estimates.

• Income figures were lower than total consumption and savings.

• Technical Expert Group (TEG) to guide the survey.

• Includes economists from ISI, JNU, DSE, NCAER, and officials from MoSPI.

• Will advise on definitions, methods, sampling, and report release.

• Launched new surveys on unincorporated enterprises, services, and domestic tourism.

• Introduced monthly PLFS with questions on household income, though detailed data not yet released.

• Aims to fill major data gap in income distribution.

• Will support welfare policy, inequality analysis, and track economic shifts over 75 years.

• India’s per capita gross national income for 2024–25: Rs 2.31 lakh, up 8.7% from last year.