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Was the delay in releasing PLFS (2017–18) political?

Sep 12, 2025
1 min read

Was the delay in releasing PLFS (2017–18) political?

Background:

  • PLFS (Periodic Labour Force Survey) replaced NSS Employment-Unemployment Survey.

  • The 2017–18 PLFS report showed India’s unemployment at 6.1%, the highest in 45 years.

  • Its release was delayed until after the 2019 general elections → sparked debate on political interference.

Balanced Answer: Officially, MoSPI cited “methodological transition” as the reason. However, the delay raised doubts. From a professional perspective, timely release is essential to maintain trust in official statistics.

Cross Q: 👉 If you were an ISS officer, what would you do in such a situation?Response: I would recommend early release with clear methodological caveats, ensuring transparency while safeguarding credibility.

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