Govt to Launch First-Ever Survey on Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs
India proposes its first-ever survey to track gender-specific barriers for women entrepreneurs and investment trends in informal businesses.
In a landmark move to empower female business owners, the Indian government has proposed a comprehensive data collection drive to identify the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. This initiative will be integrated into the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) for the 2027–28 cycle, marking the first time the state will systematically examine the gender-specific hurdles women encounter while managing their businesses.
Breaking Barriers: A Focus on Gender-Specific Constraints
According to a recent release by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the government aims to move beyond general data to understand the unique obstacles that hinder women-led enterprises. For the first time, the survey will feature targeted questions designed to capture the specific constraints female entrepreneurs face in the daily operation and management of their establishments.
The primary objective behind this shift is to create a robust, data-driven foundation for future policies. By pinpointing exactly where women struggle—whether it be access to credit, regulatory hurdles, or social barriers—the government intends to design interventions that actively encourage greater female participation in India's economic activities.
Tracking Investment and Growth in the Informal Sector
Beyond gender dynamics, the proposed ASUSE 2027–28 survey seeks to deepen the understanding of how unincorporated businesses grow. The Ministry has proposed introducing new metrics to track investments in fixed assets over an extended period.
This change is intended to provide a "broader perspective on the investment trajectory of establishments," allowing policymakers to see how small, informal businesses scale their operations over time. Given that the unincorporated non-agricultural sector is a vital lifeline for employment and livelihoods across India, these insights are considered critical for national economic planning.
Key Structural Changes to the Survey
To ensure the data is more useful for national accounting, the government is proposing several structural and thematic updates to the survey process:
- Shift in Timeline: The survey period will move from a calendar year (January–December) to a financial year (April–March) starting from the 2027–28 cycle.
- Energy Insights: New questions will be added to identify the sources of electricity used by various business establishments.
- Sectoral Identification: There will be a specific focus on identifying businesses involved in traditional sectors, including handicrafts, power-loom, and handloom activities.
Call for Feedback
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has opened the floor for suggestions to refine this ambitious project. Stakeholders and the public have been invited to provide feedback on the proposed questionnaire, with the deadline for submissions set for November 15, 2026.