NSO Releases First District-Level Unincorporated Sector Estimates
The National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has published the first-ever district-level estimates from the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2025, marking a significant advancement in sub-state-level economic statistics in India. The survey covers 757 out of 770 districts available in the sampling frame, providing comprehensive data on the unincorporated non-agricultural sector across manufacturing, trade, and other services sectors, excluding agricultural activities and limited liability partnerships.
Geographical Concentration and Economic Activity
The data reveals significant geographical concentration of economic activity, with the top 10 districts accounting for approximately one-tenth of total establishments, workers, and Gross Value Added (GVA) in the unincorporated sector. These top 10 districts are spread across four states: Gujarat, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. The concentration intensifies further, with the top 50 districts capturing nearly one-third of all establishments, workforce, and GVA, distributed across twelve states including Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.
District-level distribution shows considerable variation, with roughly one-third of all districts having more than one lakh unincorporated establishments per district. Only 16 districts have more than 5 lakh establishments, with eight located in West Bengal, three in Maharashtra, two in Gujarat, and one each in Karnataka, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Productivity Performance Metrics
The report highlights substantial variations in economic productivity across districts. In 331 districts, GVA per worker ranges between ₹1 lakh and ₹1.5 lakh, while 280 districts exceed the all-India average GVA per worker of ₹1,56,539, indicating relatively higher levels of economic productivity in these regions.
Gender Participation Patterns
Female entrepreneurship shows distinct regional patterns, with the top 10 districts having the highest share of female-led unincorporated establishments located in Telangana, Manipur, and Meghalaya. Mizoram demonstrates exceptional gender parity, with female-owned proprietary establishments accounting for at least 50% of establishments in each district of the state.
Workforce participation data reveals that in 237 districts, women constitute one-third of the total workforce in the unincorporated sector, with 25 districts showing female workers comprising more than 50% of the workforce. The top ten districts with the highest share of female workers are located in Telangana, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
State-wise District Contributions
The report provides detailed state-wise data showing the top contributing district within each of the 33 States/UTs and their percentage contribution to total unincorporated business units. Notable contributions include South Andaman (61.04% in Andaman & Nicobar Islands), Dadra & Nagar Haveli (65.48% in Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu), North Goa (77.66%), Puducherry (76.64% in Puducherry district), and Leh (59.00% in Ladakh). Among larger states, Surat contributes 19.43% in Gujarat, Pune contributes 9.14% in Maharashtra, and North Twenty-Four Parganas contributes 15.99% in West Bengal.
Methodology and Coverage Notes
The survey coverage excludes some villages in Andaman and Nicobar Islands that are difficult to access, and district-level estimates could not be generated for Delhi due to sampling methodology constraints. The data collection utilized Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) through tablets, with establishments surveyed based on a 'monthly' reference period. Users are cautioned that the estimates are based on sample survey data and should consider statistical reliability measures, including Relative Standard Errors (RSEs), which are high in some cases.