Government Survey to Track Gender-Specific Hurdles for Women Entrepreneurs

The National Statistics Office (NSO) has announced significant updates to the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE), aimed at better understanding the operational challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. The upcoming survey cycle, slated to begin in April 2027, will incorporate new questions to capture gender-specific constraints, filling critical data gaps in the unincorporated sector.

Survey Overhaul and Financial Alignment

Starting with the 2027-28 round, the ASUSE will shift from a calendar year (January–December) to an April–March financial year cycle. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) stated this transition is intended to synchronize ASUSE with other national economic surveys, such as the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI). To maintain data continuity during the transition, the January–March 2027 quarter will be surveyed using the current 2026 questionnaire framework.

New Data Collection Focus

Beyond gender-specific inquiries, the proposed draft for the 2027-28 survey introduces several key data points:

• Energy usage: Questions regarding electricity sources to map energy arrangements.
• Capital investment: Expanded queries on fixed asset investment to analyze growth trajectories.
• Sector identification: Specific questions requested by the Ministry of Textiles to identify handloom, power-loom, and handicraft establishments.

Policy Implications

Officials stated that these changes seek to enhance the policy relevance of the survey. By providing a more detailed evidence base, the government aims to better inform economic discussions and support the unincorporated non-agricultural sector, which has been monitored via ASUSE since 2021-22. Stakeholders can review the draft questionnaire on the MoSPI website to understand the proposed methodology changes.