ET reported last month that the 79th round of the National Sample Survey was due to be completed this month, and that the results would likely be available by December-end.
“Some of the indicators are likely to be repeated this year as well,” one of the people said.
The 79th round of the survey, started in July last year, was termed a comprehensive annual modular survey to create a database of “high-frequency socioeconomic indicators”, which include those in line with sustainable development goals that are not captured by administrative statistics.
The 79th survey asked questions on access to mobile phones, drinking water services, internet, computer and financial institutions, which the people said may be repeated in the next round as well.
The 79th round also included the first comprehensive survey on Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) to gauge awareness and penetration of the Ayush systems besides the expenditure incurred on treatments.
The new round will likely include a comprehensive survey suggested by a different ministry. Some of the ministries have already made requests.
The survey will have to be approved by the newly reconstituted Standing Committee on Statistics. “The committee shall advise on which indicators to include and will consider demands from line ministries for inclusion in the survey,” said a person.
The expert committee was reconstituted under the chairmanship of former chief statistician of India Pronab Sen to address issues related to subject, methodology, results, data requirements and gaps in the survey design.
MoSPI has been facing flak from experts on data quality of surveys.
