Introduction

The National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the first-ever district-level estimates for India's unincorporated non-agricultural sector. These estimates are based on data from the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2025.

Key Highlights of the District-Level Estimates

Unprecedented Granularity

  • District-level estimates are available for 757 of 770 districts, providing granular data to strengthen sub-state statistics.
  • Supports evidence-based, localised policymaking.

Geographical Concentration

  • The top 10 districts (across Gujarat, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal) generate about 10% of the country's unincorporated establishments, workers, and Gross Value Added (GVA).
  • The top 50 districts account for nearly one-third of the sector's total establishments and workforce.
  • Only 16 districts have over 5 lakh establishments, with half of them (8 districts) located in West Bengal.

Productivity Disparities (GVA per Worker)

  • GVA per worker acts as a proxy for economic productivity.
  • The all-India average GVA per worker stands at Rs 1,56,539.
  • 280 districts have productivity exceeding the national average.
  • 331 districts fall slightly below it (between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh).

Women's Participation & Entrepreneurship

  • In 237 districts, women constitute at least one-third of the total unincorporated workforce.
  • In 25 districts, women make up more than 50% of the workforce.
  • States with the highest share of female-led unincorporated establishments: Telangana, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
  • In Mizoram, female-owned proprietary establishments account for at least 50% in every single district.

Significance for Governance

  • High-frequency, district-level data is essential for addressing regional economic imbalances.
  • Enables targeted interventions for:
  • MSME formalization
  • Micro-credit access
  • Women's economic empowerment
  • Strengthens India's federal planning architecture by empowering district-level planning.

About ASUSE

  • The Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) is conducted by the NSO to capture data on the unincorporated non-agricultural sector, covering manufacturing, trade, and other services (excluding construction).
  • It covers proprietary and partnership enterprises that are not formally registered as companies.

About the Unincorporated Sector

  • The unincorporated sector comprises unincorporated enterprises — units owned by households (proprietary/partnership) that are not separate legal entities independent of their owners.
  • This sector forms the backbone of India's MSME ecosystem and is a major source of employment and livelihood.

Related Institutional Framework

  • NSO: Formed in 2019 by merging the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO); functions under MoSPI.
  • MoSPI: The nodal ministry responsible for planning and facilitating the integrated development of the statistical system in India.
  • District-level estimates align with the vision of Gati Shakti-style granular planning and support schemes like PM Mudra Yojana, PM SVANidhi, and Stand-Up India that target micro-enterprises.