MoSPI releases draft schedule of National Household Income Survey 2026, India's first pan-India income survey
MoSPI said on 13 October 2025 that the National Household Income Survey, India's first pan-India survey measuring household income, will be launched in February 2026, and released its pre-testing report and draft questionnaire for feedback.
Summary
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) said on 13 October 2025 that the National Statistics Office will launch the National Household Income Survey (NHIS) in February 2026. It will be the first-ever pan-India survey focused on measuring household income, filling a long-standing data gap. MoSPI constituted a Technical Expert Group chaired by Dr Surjit S. Bhalla, former Executive Director for India at the International Monetary Fund, to guide the survey. After a pre-testing exercise, MoSPI uploaded the pre-testing report and the draft NHIS 2026 schedule on its website for public feedback on income sources such as wages, self-employment earnings, property income and remittances.
Key facts
- Survey
- National Household Income Survey (NHIS) 2026
- Launch
- February 2026
- Significance
- First pan-India household income survey
- Conducted by
- NSO, MoSPI
- Technical Expert Group chair
- Dr Surjit S. Bhalla
- Status
- Pre-testing report and draft schedule released for feedback
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Who chairs the Technical Expert Group constituted by MoSPI to guide the National Household Income Survey 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Dr Surjit S. Bhalla
PIB: MoSPI constituted a Technical Expert Group under the Chairmanship of Dr Surjit S. Bhalla, former Executive Director of India, IMF.
When is the National Household Income Survey (NHIS), India's first pan-India household income survey, scheduled to be launched?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — February 2026
PIB: the National Household Income Survey is scheduled to be launched in February 2026 and will be the first-ever pan-India survey focused on household income.