Ministry of Statistics to Conduct Household Income Survey in 2026 to Assess Income Distribution

New Delhi: The Ministry of Statistics will conduct a first of its kind household income survey in 2026 to get a better picture of income distribution and welfare and aid in data driven policy making.

For the purpose of conducting the survey, the ministry has set up a technical advisory group (TEG) under the chairmanship of former executive director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Surjit Bhalla, reported Times of India.

“The TEG will guide the national statistics office towards conducting an all-India income distribution survey, tentatively scheduled for 2026. The expert group will provide guidance with regard to finalisation of concepts and definitions, preparation of the survey method and instruments, sampling design and method of estimation, and incorporate best country practices as adopted across the world,” said the ministry in an official statement.

The statement added that the survey will also be assessing the impact of adoption of technology on household income (wages).

“The household income survey is another important initiative of the ministry to generate vital information for deriving income distribution and welfare thereof,” said the statement.

While there were efforts in the past to conduct all India surveys to obtain complete picture of transactions of household income, such a survey couldn’t be completed.

“Experience from these surveys showed there were difficulties in collecting reliable income data in the field and to overcome all these issues and having more clarity in the surveys procedures and to oversee the overall activities of the Household Income Survey and in view of the experiences of survey conducted by countries like Australia, US, Canada and South Africa. MoSPI has constituted a technical expert group (TEG)...,” said the ministry’s statement.

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