PLFS Sampling Design to Change from January 2027: NSO

The National Statistics Office (NSO), which works under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, has proposed changes in the sampling design, the estimation procedure and the schedule of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) from January 2027. A concept note setting out the details has been put on the ministry's website, and comments from policymakers, researchers, academic and research institutions and the general public have been invited within 15 days of the press note.

How the survey has grown

The NSO has run the PLFS since 2017. Its sampling design was revamped from January 2025 so that monthly, quarterly and annual estimates could be produced and indicators worked out below the state level. Questions on education and skilling were added then, and since January 2026 information on digital platform workers, a subset of gig workers, has been collected on an experimental basis.

What changes in the sampling design

The updated frame will reflect the latest Urban Frame Survey, urbanisation and de-urbanisation, the creation, splitting or merger of districts and other administrative units, and a follow-up updation of the rural Census 2011 frame. Criteria for sample allocation and stratification have also been revised on the strength of experience with Panel 5.

The transition

For the first three months from January 2027 the sample will carry units from both the Panel 5 frame and the updated Panel 6 frame. Pooled monthly estimates based on both frames will appear in the monthly bulletins for those months, and Relative Standard Error estimates will not be presented for them. The idea is to keep the monthly and quarterly labour market estimates coming without a break.

What changes in the questionnaire

• A binary question has been added in Block 5 of Schedule 0.0PL to find households where any member has ever done digital platform work in the reference period. It will be asked in both rural and urban households.
• Schedule 10.4 gets new questions on own-use production of goods, unpaid household and caregiving work, volunteer work and unpaid trainee work.
• These items will be canvassed in rural and urban areas during the first visit only, for persons aged 15 years and above, which allows annual reporting on such activities.