The income survey won't answer the questions around inequality

The survey is welcome but the absence of past data means we won't know if inequality has reduced

- HIMANSHU

The reliability of the household consumption surveys conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) for 2022-23 and 2023-24 for the measurement of poverty and inequality is a matter of debate. More so with regard to their comparability with past estimates of consumption expenditure. But these surveys are also important sources of data for inputs to several other macro indicators such as the National Accounts and the Consumer Price Index (CPI), both of which use these for updating the base year.

Meanwhile, the National Statistical Office (NSO) has decided to carry out a survey of household incomes. As part of the exercise, last month it released a Brief Report on Pretesting of Schedule of Household Income Survey for comments and suggestions. Unlike the consumption surveys, which have been in existence since the inception of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), there have not been any income surveys conducted. But there are income estimates for households available from the India Human Development Surveys for 2005 and 2012 and for 2022, results of which are awaited.