Feedback on Draft Questionnaire

The unincorporated non-agricultural sector plays an important role in the Indian economy contributing significantly to employment, gross domestic product and the overall socio-economic landscape. This sector not only sustains livelihoods for millions but also acts as a backbone for the incorporated sector by supplying goods and services, reinforcing its role in the domestic value chain.

ASUSE is carried out with the primary objective of measuring various economic and operational characteristics of unincorporated non-agricultural establishments in manufacturing, trade and other services sectors (excluding construction). The survey collects data on various economic characteristics of this sector including number of workers, gross value added, emoluments paid, fixed asset owned, outstanding loan, besides, different types of operational characteristics such as type of ownership, nature of operation, registration status, use of ICT, etc.

The data serves as a key input for policymaking, supporting National Accounts Statistics, fulfilling the requirements of Ministries such as M/o Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Textiles, etc. and other stakeholders empowering them to make informed, data-driven decisions.

The survey has been conducted annually from 2021-22 and the ongoing survey of ASUSE 2025 is being carried out from January, 2025 to December, 2025. Since its inception, the survey has gained significant recognition and has drawn the attention of multiple stakeholders, including various government organizations, policymakers, and academicians. Recognizing the critical role of the unincorporated sector in the Indian economy and aiming to enhance the availability of high-frequency data, the NSO has also started releasing quarterly bulletin of unincorporated sector (QBUSE) starting from the January-March 2025 quarter. The quarterly bulletin w.r.t. Q2 (July-September 2025) is also available in MoSPI website.

To make the survey more relevant for sound policy formulation and to establish it as a useful instrument for generating insightful findings on the unincorporated sector, the Ministry has undertaken several initiatives to address the data requirements of ASUSE stakeholders. These initiatives include the organization of Data User's Conferences, regular interaction with Ministries and regular deliberations with expert groups on various technical aspects of the survey.

During the ongoing ASUSE 2025, a number of suggestions and data requirements have been received from various stakeholders of ASUSE through different forums. Considering these suggestions and requisitions, certain modifications have been carried out in the ESU schedule of ASUSE 2026.

The Draft ESU Schedule of ASUSE 2026 is now uploaded on the MoSPI website for wider consultation. Researchers, policymakers, industry bodies, academic institutions, and the public are invited to review the schedule and share their feedback/suggestions on its structure, content, and coverage. These inputs will help enhance the quality, coverage, and policy relevance of the forthcoming ASUSE.

Suggestions and comments may be sent to the email IDs [email protected] and [email protected] by 20^th December, 2025 in the specific format attached at link provided below:

https://www.mospi.gov.in/uploads/announcements/announcements_1765360797934_efaca462-b4ff-4d8a-a550-40c6a0183ffb_CQCD_circular_seeking_feedback_of_ASUSE_2026_SCHEDULE.pdf

The draft ESU schedule can be accessed at link provided below:

https://www.mospi.gov.in/uploads/announcements/announcements_1765360797934_efaca462-b4ff-4d8a-a550-40c6a0183ffb_CQCD_circular_seeking_feedback_of_ASUSE_2026_SCHEDULE.pdf

Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises invites stakeholder feedback on the Draft ESU Schedule by 20 December 2025. The Draft ESU Schedule for ASUSE 2026 is published on the MoSPI website for stakeholder consultation; the survey captures economic and operational characteristics of unincorporated non agricultural establishments and supports national accounts and policy needs. Modifications to the schedule reflect suggestions from ongoing ASUSE 2025 and consultative exercises. Comments in the prescribed format should be sent to the designated email addresses by 20 December 2025; links to the draft and feedback format are provided on the MoSPI site.