Introduction
The Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE) is an annual survey conducted by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). It collects comprehensive data on incorporated enterprises engaged in the services sector to improve the quality of official statistics and support national income estimation.
Objectives
- Measure the performance of the organised services sector.
- Generate reliable data for estimating Gross Value Added (GVA) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
- Assess the contribution of incorporated service enterprises to the Indian economy.
- Support evidence-based policymaking and economic planning.
Coverage
The survey covers incorporated enterprises registered under the Companies Act and engaged in service-sector activities.
Major sectors covered include:
- Trade
- Transport and Storage
- Information and Communication
- Financial and Insurance Services
- Real Estate Activities
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
- Administrative and Support Services
- Education
- Human Health and Social Work
- Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
- Other Service Activities
Data Collected
The survey gathers information on:
- Number of enterprises.
- Employment and wages.
- Revenue and expenditure.
- Fixed assets and capital formation.
- Value of output.
- Gross Value Added (GVA).
- Operating surplus and profits.
- Investments and business performance.
Significance
Improving National Accounts
Provides high-quality data for estimating India’s GDP and GVA, especially for the organised services sector.
Evidence-Based Policymaking
Supports government decisions related to industrial policy, investment and service-sector development.
Statistical Strengthening
Fills data gaps in the organised services sector and enhances the reliability of official statistics.
Business and Research
Offers valuable information for researchers, policymakers and industry to analyse trends in India’s services economy.
Recent Developments
- MoSPI has expanded the scope and methodology of ASISSE to improve coverage and data quality.
- The survey supports the development of the proposed Index of Services Production (ISP) by providing detailed structural data on service-sector enterprises.
- Greater use of digital data collection and administrative records has improved the efficiency and accuracy of the survey.
Challenges
- Ensuring timely submission of data by enterprises.
- Capturing emerging digital and platform-based service businesses.
- Maintaining data quality and consistency across sectors.
- Integrating survey data with administrative databases.
Way Forward
- Increase digital reporting and automation in data collection.
- Expand coverage of emerging service industries.
- Strengthen integration with GST, MCA and other administrative databases.
- Improve dissemination of survey findings for research and policymaking.
Conclusion
The Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE) is a key statistical initiative for measuring the organised services sector in India. By providing detailed information on the performance of incorporated service enterprises, it strengthens national accounts, supports economic policymaking and contributes to the development of robust service-sector statistics.
