MoSPI Plans City-Level Stats Reports for 47 Major Urban Centres
Synopsis
India's MoSPI has proposed annual city-level statistical reports for 47 million-plus cities, using PLFS and ASUSE data to track labour markets, informal enterprises, and potentially city-level GDP — a move that could reshape how urban policy and investment decisions are made across the country.
Key Takeaways
MoSPI has proposed annual city-level statistical reports for 47 million-plus cities identified under Population Census 2011 .
Two thematic reports are planned: Employment Profile of Million-Plus Cities and City-Level Profile of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises .
Data will be sourced from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) and the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) .
The initiative aims to enable city-level GDP estimation for the first time in India, a tool already standard in the US and EU.
A consultation paper has been published on the MoSPI website , with stakeholder feedback invited to refine the framework.
Reports will be published annually in the public domain using accessible, user-friendly formats.
New Delhi, April 25 (NationPress) — The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has proposed a landmark initiative to publish dedicated city-level statistical reports for India's 47 million-plus cities, aiming to deliver granular urban data that can transform policy-making, labour market analysis, and city-level GDP estimation. The proposal was announced through an official statement on Friday, April 24, marking a significant step toward closing long-standing data gaps in urban governance.
What MoSPI Has Proposed
The ministry intends to identify the 47 million-plus cities based on the Population Census 2011 and generate city-specific statistical profiles using two existing national surveys — the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) and the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE). Both surveys already provide statistically robust data that can be disaggregated to the city level, making this initiative practically viable without requiring entirely new data collection machinery.
The reports will be published annually and disseminated in the public domain using user-friendly formats, ensuring accessibility for policymakers, researchers, urban planners, and civil society alike.
Two Flagship Thematic Reports
MoSPI has outlined two core annual thematic publications under this framework. The first, titled Employment Profile of Million-Plus Cities, will track key labour market indicators including the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), and Unemployment Rate — data points that are currently unavailable at the city level in any consistent, comparable format.
The second report, the City-Level Profile of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises, will map the scale, structure, employment levels, and economic performance of the urban informal sector — a critical but chronically under-documented segment of India's economy. Together, these two reports are designed to provide a 360-degree statistical picture of India's largest urban economies.
Why This Initiative Matters for Urban India
India's major cities contribute a disproportionately large share of national income and host dense concentrations of both formal and informal economic activity. Yet, reliable and consistent city-level statistics have remained elusive, hampering the ability of urban local bodies, state governments, and central planners to accurately assess labour market conditions or the true scale of the informal economy within specific cities.
The absence of such data has also been a structural barrier to developing city-level Gross Domestic Product (GDP) estimates — a tool widely used in countries like the United States and members of the European Union to guide regional investment and fiscal policy. India's move to build this statistical infrastructure aligns with global best practices in urban economic governance.
This comes amid growing pressure on Indian cities to absorb rapid urbanisation — the United Nations projects that India will add approximately 416 million urban residents by 2050, making data-driven urban planning not just desirable but existentially necessary.
Stakeholder Consultation Underway
A consultation paper outlining the proposed framework for generating city-level estimates has been uploaded on the official MoSPI website. The ministry has invited comments from all stakeholders to review and suggest improvements to the proposed framework, indicators, methodology, and dissemination strategy.
This open consultation signals a shift toward more participatory statistical governance, allowing academics, urban planners, industry bodies, and civil society organisations to shape the final methodology before rollout.
Broader Implications for Policy and Governance
Once operationalised, these city-level reports could fundamentally change how Smart City projects, urban infrastructure investments, and employment schemes are designed and evaluated. Policymakers would, for the first time, have standardised, annually updated data to compare labour market performance and informal sector health across India's largest cities.
Notably, the initiative also lays the groundwork for city-level GDP estimation, which could eventually influence how central and state funds are allocated to urban local bodies — a reform with significant fiscal and political consequences. As India accelerates its urbanisation, the quality of city-level data infrastructure will increasingly determine the effectiveness of every rupee spent on urban development.
With the consultation period now open, stakeholders are expected to submit their feedback in the coming weeks, after which MoSPI is likely to finalise the framework and announce a timeline for the first publication.
Point of View
Disrupting entrenched state-level political interests. India's urban future will be won or lost on the quality of its data infrastructure, and this initiative, if executed rigorously, could be a genuine turning point.
NationPress
3 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MoSPI's city-level statistical report initiative?
MoSPI has proposed publishing annual statistical reports for India's 47 million-plus cities to provide granular data on labour markets and the informal economy. The reports will use data from the PLFS and ASUSE surveys and will be made publicly available in user-friendly formats.
Which cities will be covered under the MoSPI city-level reports?
The initiative covers 47 million-plus cities identified as per the Population Census 2011. These are cities with a population of one million or more, representing India's largest urban centres.
What data will the city-level statistical reports include?
The reports will include two thematic publications — one covering labour market indicators like Labour Force Participation Rate, Worker Population Ratio, and Unemployment Rate, and another profiling unincorporated sector enterprises in urban areas. They will also contribute to city-level GDP estimation.
How can stakeholders participate in the MoSPI consultation process?
MoSPI has uploaded a consultation paper on its official website inviting public feedback. Stakeholders can submit comments on the proposed framework, indicators, methodology, and dissemination strategy to help shape the final approach.
Why is city-level GDP estimation important for India?
City-level GDP estimates would allow policymakers to accurately assess each city's economic contribution and guide investment and fiscal policy more effectively. Countries like the US and EU members already use such data, and India's adoption could improve urban fund allocation and governance.
