National Household Income Survey (NHIS) 2026 | 14 Oct 2025

Source: PIB 

The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) plans to launch the National Household Income Survey (NHIS) in February 2026. 

• NHIS 2026 will be the first-ever pan-India household income survey. This survey will enable inter-personal income comparisons and detailed analysis of income sources, addressing a long-standing data gap in India’s socio-economic statistics. 
• Purpose: NHIS 2026 aims to capture living conditions, income and expenditure patterns, and provide critical data for rebasing the Consumer Price Index (CPI), preparing National Accounts, and conducting poverty and hardship analysis. 
• The National Statistics Office (NSO) under MoSPI has conducted large-scale household surveys since 1950.  
  • The National Sample Survey (NSS) provides key official statistics on household welfare, consumption, employment, health, assets, and indebtedness, supporting evidence-based policymaking. 
• Global Context: Countries like the US, Canada, UK, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, China, and Malaysia already collect household income data through surveys. The NHIS will bring India in line with these international best practices.