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Govt Proposes City-Level Statistical Reports for 47 Million-Plus Cities

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has proposed an initiative to publish dedicated city-level statistical reports for India's 47 million-plus cities. The reports will use existing data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey and the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises to provide granular urban statistics. Two annual thematic reports are planned, covering employment profiles and the unincorporated sector in these cities. The initiative aims to bridge data gaps, support city-level policy formulation, and contribute to city-level GDP estimation.

Key Points: City-Level Stats for 47 Million-Plus Urban Hubs Proposed

  • Ministry proposes dedicated city-level statistical reports for 47 million-plus cities
  • Reports will use PLFS and ASUSE data for granular urban statistics
  • Two annual thematic reports planned: Employment Profile and Unincorporated Sector Profile
  • Initiative aims to support city-level GDP estimation and policy formulation
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Govt proposes city-level statistical reports for 47 million-plus cities to enhance urban planning

MoSPI proposes annual city-level statistical reports for 47 million-plus cities to enhance urban planning, with data on employment and informal sector.

"The initiative seeks to bridge critical data gaps and support informed decision-making at all levels of governance - Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation"

New Delhi, April 24

Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation proposed an initiative to publish dedicated city‑level statistical reports for the country's 47 million‑plus cities, to provide more granular data for urban policy and planning, an official statement said on Friday.

The ministry said that 47 million‑plus cities will be identified as per Population Census 2011, and the reports will use existing data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) and the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE), both of which already allow statistically robust estimation at the city level.

The initiative seeks to bridge critical data gaps and support informed decision-making at all levels of governance, the statement said.

Further, it aims to enhance the availability of granular urban statistics, support city-level policy formulation, contribute to city-level GDP estimation, and improve understanding of urban labour markets and enterprise dynamics. The reports will be disseminated annually in the public domain using user-friendly formats.

MoSPI proposed two annual thematic reports, including an Employment Profile of Million‑Plus Cities, and a City-Level Profile of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises.

The first report will provide key labour market indicators such as Labour Force Participation Rate, Worker Population Ratio, and Unemployment Rate. The second report will capture the scale, structure, employment, and economic performance of the urban informal sector, the ministry said.

Cities account for a significant share of national income and host a large concentration of both formal and informal economic activities, making them critical units of economic analysis.

However, the absence of reliable and consistent city-level statistics limits the ability to assess labour market conditions and the structure and performance of the unincorporated sector.

The initiative also seeks to create data for developing city-level Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates.

A consultation paper on the proposed framework for generation of city-level estimates has been uploaded on the MoSPI website for wider consultation of stakeholders. Stakeholders' comments are invited to review and suggest improvements to the proposed framework, indicators, methodology, and dissemination strategy.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
This is a smart move. In the US we have Bureau of Labor Statistics data at metro level, and it helps businesses decide where to invest. India's cities are growing so fast—having annual reports on employment and informal sector will be a game changer for policymakers and researchers. The city GDP estimation part is particularly interesting.
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Priya S
Great initiative but I hope they actually use this data to improve lives. Too many surveys end up gathering dust. Also, 2011 census is 12 years old—many cities have crossed the million mark since then. They should update the list using more recent estimates. Still, kudos to MoSPI for moving in this direction.
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Michael C
As an economist studying Indian cities, this is exactly what we need. The unincorporated sector—street vendors, small workshops, home-based businesses—is the backbone of urban employment but completely invisible in official statistics. City-level profiles will help us design better social security and credit schemes. Well done, MoSPI.
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Vikram M
One concern: data quality. PLFS already has issues with sampling in smaller cities. Will they ensure adequate sample size for each of these 47 cities? Also, annual reports are good but quarterly would be better for real-time policy. Anyway, a step in the right direction after years of data drought. 👍
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Emma D
Finally bringing Indian urban data into the 21st century! I've worked on Smart City projects and the lack of granular data was always a bottleneck. City-level GDP estimates will help attract foreign investment too—investors need numbers to justify putting money into Surat

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