Thu, 29 Oct 2026 · LIVE
Updated Oct 26, 2026 · 21:09
Business India News Updated Oct 26, 2026

MoSPI to survey challenges of women entrepreneurs in ASUSE 2027-28

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has proposed adding gender-specific questions to the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises 2027-28 to capture the constraints women face in running businesses. The survey will also track fixed-asset investment over a longer period, add questions on electricity sources, and identify handloom, power-loom and handicraft establishments. The government has invited feedback on the proposed questionnaire until November 15, 2026, and plans to shift the survey period to the financial year from 2027-28.

Govt proposes first-ever survey of challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, plans to track business investments

New Delhi, October 26

The government has proposed collecting data on challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and investment trends among informal businesses under the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises 2027-28.

According to a release by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Monday, the survey will, for the first time, examine gender-specific difficulties faced by women in running and managing their businesses.

The Ministry said, "For the first time, questions will be introduced to capture gender-specific constraints faced by female entrepreneurs in operating and managing their establishments."

The move is aimed at identifying barriers affecting women-led enterprises and providing data to support policies encouraging women's participation in economic activities.

The survey will also introduce a question to track investment in fixed assets over a longer period to better understand investment patterns among unincorporated businesses.

The Ministry said the change is "intended to provide a broader perspective on the investment trajectory of establishments."

The proposed changes are significant as the unincorporated non-agricultural sector is an important source of employment, livelihoods and economic activity in India.

The government has also proposed shifting the survey period from the calendar year (January-December) to the financial year (April-March) from ASUSE 2027-28 to improve the use of survey data in national accounts.

Additional questions will cover electricity sources used by establishments and identify businesses engaged in handloom, power-loom and handicraft activities.

The Ministry has invited feedback on the proposed questionnaire until November 15, 2026.

— ANI

Reader’s Guide · AI-assisted, based only on the report above

What the report makes clear: A planned official survey will, for the first time, gather data on the specific difficulties women face in running informal businesses.

Still open: The report does not yet say how the new questions were designed, who was consulted, or how the findings will be used in policy.

Another way to look at it: Better data on women-led enterprises could sharpen policy, but the survey's value depends on how honestly respondents report constraints.

What challenges do you think a survey of women entrepreneurs should capture?

Reader Voices

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