Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 14: The central government will roll out India’s first-ever National Household Income Survey (NHIS) in February 2026 to gather comprehensive data on household earnings and income distribution across the country.

The survey, to be conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), aims to fill a long-standing data gap in measuring income inequality—something earlier assessed indirectly through consumption surveys.

According to MoSPI, the NHIS will provide direct estimates of income levels and sources, enabling a clearer understanding of disparities between rural and urban households. The initiative aligns India with several nations—including the US, Canada, China, and Bangladesh—that regularly collect household income data.

A technical expert group, chaired by economist Surjit S Bhalla, oversaw the pre-testing of the survey across 15 regional offices in cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad in August 2025.

To refine the final questionnaire, MoSPI has invited public feedback on aspects such as wages, self-employment, property income, and remittances. Comments can be submitted until October 30, 2025.

Officials said the NHIS will help produce more accurate assessments of poverty and inequality, marking a major step toward evidence-based policymaking in India.