Why in News
The National Statistics Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), launched the first-ever Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE) from April 2026. The survey covers all States and UTs with a reference period of FY 2024–25 and a sample size of approximately 1.21 lakh enterprises. India’s services sector contributes over 50% of GDP and employs millions — yet official enterprise-level data has been sparse.
India’s Services Sector — Scale and Significance
| Indicator | Detail |
|---|---|
| Services sector share of GDP | ~55% (FY 2024–25) |
| Services sector share of employment | ~30% of workforce |
| Major sub-sectors | IT/ITeS, trade, transport, hospitality, education, health, finance |
| India’s services exports | ~$340 billion (2023–24) — top 7 globally |
| Largest employer in formal services | IT and business services (~5+ million) |
What Is ASISSE?
Full Name and Coverage
Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE)
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launched by | NSO / MoSPI |
| Type | Annual survey (to be conducted every year) |
| Reference period | FY 2024–25 (first round) |
| Coverage | All States and Union Territories |
| Target entities | Companies under Companies Act 1956/2013 and LLPs under LLP Act 2008 |
| Sample size | ~1.21 lakh enterprises |
| Key outputs | Operational indicators, economic indicators, employment data |
What Does It Measure?
- Gross output and value added — contribution to GDP from incorporated services
- Employment and wages — formal employment in the services sector
- Capital formation — investment by services firms
- Financial health — profits, liabilities, assets of services enterprises
- Sector composition — breakdown by type of service (trade, transport, IT, health, etc.)
Why This Survey Is Important
The Data Gap Problem
India has good data on:
- Industry: Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) — covers manufacturing factories
- Agriculture: Multiple surveys (crop area, production)
But official enterprise-level data on services has been fragmented and infrequent:
- Earlier attempts: Economic Census (last done in 2013–14, not annual) and NSSO Enterprise Surveys (periodic, not annual)
- Unincorporated services partly covered by NSSO’s unorganised sector surveys
- Incorporated services had no dedicated annual survey — now addressed by ASISSE
Impact on GDP Estimation
India’s GDP is estimated using:
- Production approach — value added by each sector
- Expenditure approach — consumption + investment + government + net exports
Services GDP is partly estimated using proxy indicators (tax data, financial statements from MCA21 database). ASISSE will provide direct enterprise-level data improving GDP accuracy and sectoral breakdowns.
MoSPI and NSO — Key Statistics Bodies
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| MoSPI (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation) | Apex statistics ministry; coordinates national statistics |
| NSO (National Statistics Office) | Merged body: CSO + NSSO (2019); conducts national surveys |
| CSO (Central Statistics Office) | GDP compilation; merged into NSO |
| NSSO (National Sample Survey Office) | Household and enterprise surveys; merged into NSO |
| National Statistical Commission (NSC) | Independent advisory body; recommends statistical standards |
NSO’s major surveys/outputs:
- CPI (Consumer Price Index) — monthly inflation
- IIP (Index of Industrial Production) — monthly factory output
- GDP estimates — quarterly and annual
- PLFS (Periodic Labour Force Survey) — annual employment survey
- HCE Survey (Household Consumption Expenditure Survey) — periodic consumption data
UPSC Relevance
Prelims
- ASISSE: Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises
- Launched by: NSO/MoSPI, April 2026
- Reference period: FY 2024–25
- Sample size: ~1.21 lakh
- Services sector GDP share: 55%+
- NSO = merged CSO + NSSO (2019)
Mains
- “India’s statistical machinery must modernise to capture the true scale of the services economy. Critically examine.” (GS3)
- Challenges in GDP estimation in a service-dominated economy
Facts Corner
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| ASISSE | First-ever annual survey of incorporated services sector |
| Launched by | NSO under MoSPI |
| Sample size | ~1.21 lakh enterprises |
| Reference period | FY 2024–25 |
| Services GDP share | ~55% of India’s GDP |
| NSO formation | 2019 — merger of CSO and NSSO |
| Companies Act | 1956 (old) / 2013 (current) |
| LLP Act | 2008 |
| Earlier data source | MCA21 database (financial statements of companies) |
