SBI Research has revealed that greater ICT adoption among informal enterprises significantly boosts productivity and formalisation, with a one-unit increase in digital adoption being associated with roughly a 76% rise in labour productivity. According to the latest analysis of the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2025 by SBI Research, ICT adoption is strongly linked to higher output per worker and a much greater likelihood of firms entering the formal system. The study, titled 'Empowering Enterprises through Digitalisation and Formalisation', shows that ICT scores increase the probability of firm registration by about 84 percentage points on average, with sectoral impacts of roughly 64 percentage points in manufacturing, 82 percentage points in trade and 86 percentage points in other services. One-unit increase in the ICT adoption index is associated with nearly a 76% increase in labour productivity, while firm age and capital intensity improve productivity by 11% and 7% respectively, holding all other factors constant.
The Statistics Ministry is finalising plans to launch entirely new indices designed to measure monthly industrial production specifically for India's vast informal manufacturing sector, along with a parallel index tracking production and economic output across the informal service sector. According to The Times of India, these new indices will complement the revised 2022-23 base year IIP series that was unveiled on Monday. The data architecture for these new series will draw extensively from latest surveys, including the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) and Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). As reported by The Times of India, their local sample sizes will be expanded to get a clear picture of production in the vast unorganised sector, which is the mainstay for millions of people. The National Sample Survey Office under MoSPI has launched comprehensive discussions on upcoming enterprise surveys across India, with a major conference held in New Delhi today bringing together nearly 150 participants, including representatives from about 70 business associations covering all major sectors.
The Delhi government has initiated preparations for the 8th Economic Census to comprehensively list various trade, business and entrepreneurial agricultural units in the national capital. According to reports from PTI, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has designated the Delhi government's Directorate of Economics and Statistics as the central nodal agency for conducting the census in the city. The Centre's ministry has specifically designated Delhi's Directorate for the enumeration of all business establishments, including those in the informal sector. The economic census will collect data on economic activities, ownership patterns and employment generation across the city. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has now officially launched these comprehensive survey initiatives across India, ensuring standardized methodology and data collection processes across all participating states and union territories.
The economic census represents a comprehensive exercise that will enumerate all business and economic establishments operating across the city, from large companies and factories to small shops, street vendors, service providers and home-based enterprises. As reported by PTI, the census will capture important information about these establishments, such as the type of activities they undertake, the number of people they employ and their locations. The enumeration will include coaching centres, pickle-making units, and other home-based enterprises, ensuring no business establishment is left unaccounted for in the national capital. The National Sample Survey Office conference has now expanded this focus to include the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises and Annual Survey of Service Sector Enterprises for a more comprehensive understanding of India's economic landscape. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has now officially launched these comprehensive survey initiatives across India, ensuring standardized methodology and data collection processes across all participating states and union territories.
