NSO proposes PLFS changes from January 2027, including a separate stratum for digital platform workers
On 23 October 2026 the National Statistics Office (NSO) proposed changes to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) from January 2027, including a new Second Stage Stratum for digital platform workers and fresh 2027-2028 samples (Panel 6), and invited comments within 15 days.
Summary
The National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) proposed changes to the sampling design, schedule and estimation of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) from January 2027, in a press note of 23 October 2026. A new Second Stage Stratum based on digital platform work will be added because PLFS 2026 did not capture enough such workers, giving four strata in rural and five in urban areas with 14 households canvassed per First Stage Unit. Fresh samples for 2027-2028 (Panel 6) will be drawn from an updated frame, and comments are invited within 15 days. PLFS has run since 2017, and its design was revamped in January 2025 to give monthly, quarterly and annual estimates.
Key facts
- Survey
- Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), run by NSO (MoSPI) since 2017
- Changes from
- January 2027
- New stratum
- Second Stage Stratum for digital platform workers
- Strata
- 4 in rural, 5 in urban; 14 households per First Stage Unit
- New panel
- Panel 6, fresh samples for 2027-2028 from updated frame
- Comments
- Within 15 days of the press note (23 October 2026)
- Earlier revamp
- January 2025: monthly, quarterly and annual estimates
Practice MCQs 2 questions
From January 2027, the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) will add a new Second Stage Stratum to better capture which group?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — Digital platform workers
The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) has been conducted by the National Statistics Office since which year?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 2017