- Why in news
- On 6 May 2026, MoSPI released the detailed report and unit-level data of ASUSE 2025 (January–December 2025). The factsheet with key results had come out on 24 March 2026.
- Who publishes it
- The survey is run by the NSO under MoSPI. Its data feed policy for ministries such as MSME and Textiles, and the National Accounts.
- Sectors covered
- Unincorporated non-agricultural establishments in manufacturing, trade and other services; construction is excluded.
- Number of establishments
- Establishments rose from 7.34 crore (2023-24) to 7.92 crore (2025), a 7.97% rise.
- Digital adoption
- Internet use for business rose from 26.68% to 39.37% overall.
Don’t confuse with ASUSE vs PLFS: ASUSE measures enterprises (establishments, GVA, assets). PLFS measures household employment and unemployment. Both are by NSO.
Don’t confuse with Unincorporated vs unorganised: Unincorporated refers to the legal form of enterprise (proprietorship, partnership, etc.). Unorganised is a wider term, often defined by size or worker security.
Reports and indices: 14 Prelims questions since 2013; they test who publishes a report and what it measures.
Why it matters
- Gives data on the informal enterprise sector, which employs a large share of workers, for national accounts and MSME policy.
- Shows women's role as proprietors and workers, and digital and formal credit use.
Problems
- Registration is still low at about 37.5% of establishments.
- Women are only about 29% of workers, concentrated in a few activities like apparel.
Way forward
- Simplify registration and link enterprises to formal credit and digital tools.
- Use district-level estimates for local planning and targeted MSME support.
Put in your answer
GVA growth: GVA rose 10.87% in current prices, led by trade at 16.77%.
Formal credit: More than 80% of outstanding loans came from institutional sources.
- 2021Mains GS3 · Q1Explain differences in India's GDP computation methodology before and after 2015.
- 2014Mains GS3 · Q1Why India's services grew faster than industry, and whether developed status needs industry.
- 2023Mains GS3 · Q1Comment on government policies for manufacturing share in GDP, especially MSMEs.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Survey by MoSPI; reports and indices are 14 of 327 Prelims questions, and these are routine data.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.