Release of “Know Your Survey: A User Guide to the Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE)”- a reader-friendly explainer on the survey

The National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), launches the first ever Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE) from April, 2026 covering all States and Union Territories; accompanied by an explainer document titled Know Your Survey: A User Guide to the Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE), designed specifically for communicating survey processes in a user-friendly manner.

In terms of economic significance, the services sector contributes more than half of India's GDP, generates millions of jobs and has been a major catalyst for the country's economic transformation in the last few decades. ASISSE is envisaged to be a key source of official data on the incorporated services sector of the economy comprising of services like trade, transport, hospitality, information technology, education, heath, etc. and thereby representing one of the most dynamic components of India’s economy.

ASISSE is a significant initiative aimed at developing a comprehensive database of the incorporated services sector in India. A comparable database for the registered manufacturing sector already exists through the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI), conducted by the NSO, MoSPI. The unincorporated non-agricultural sector (excluding construction) is covered by the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) of MOSPI. Together, these three surveys provide a holistic view of the non-agricultural economy, capturing key indicators at both state and industry levels.

The survey covers corporate entities in the services sector – companies registered under the Companies Act, 1956/2013 or Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008. With a sample size of approximately 1.21 lakh enterprises, the survey is expected to generate key operational and economic indicators, which are crucial for evidence-based policymaking and economic analysis. The survey will be conducted under the provisions of Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, as amended in 2017 and through the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 and data will be collected through a secure web-based portal.

On this occasion, NSO also releases an explainer document “Know Your Survey – A User Guide to ASISSE”, aimed at promoting greater awareness, transparency, and ease of compliance, and at improving the quality and reliability of data collected under ASISSE. The guide provides detailed information on survey objectives, coverage, concepts, definitions, and other relevant information in a clear and user-friendly manner. It addresses frequently asked questions and clarifies reporting requirements for selected enterprises. The document also includes a dedicated section for survey respondents, addressing their common queries, concerns, and doubts that may arise during the course of survey. The preparation of this document is aligned with global best practices followed internationally by national statistical systems in communicating survey design, processes, and outputs. The publication reflects NSO’s commitment to fostering a more informed, aware, and engaged data user community, thereby strengthening public trust in official statistics.

Link to MoSPI website: https://mospi.gov.in/