India is set to overhaul the way urban economic data is collected and analysed, with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation proposing the creation of dedicated statistical reports for 47 of the country’s largest cities. The move marks a critical step towards strengthening evidence-based policymaking in an era of rapid urbanisation, where cities are emerging as key drivers of economic growth but remain underrepresented in official statistical systems.
The proposed initiative will be implemented through the National Statistics Office, which operates under MoSPI. It will rely on existing large-scale datasets such as the Periodic Labour Force Survey and the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises. These surveys already provide statistically robust estimates that can be disaggregated to the city level, enabling the creation of detailed urban profiles without the need for entirely new data collection mechanisms.
At present, India’s statistical framework has been widely criticised for its limited focus on city-level indicators, even as urban centres continue to expand in population and economic importance. While national and state-level data is relatively comprehensive, granular insights into individual cities remain sparse. This gap has often constrained policymakers, urban planners and researchers who require accurate and timely data to address challenges related to employment, infrastructure and economic activity in urban areas.
The 47 cities identified under this proposal are based on population figures from the Population Census 2011 and include major municipal corporations spread across 17 states and union territories. These include cities such as Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Patna, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Srinagar, Dhanbad and Ranchi, among others. Together, these cities represent a substantial share of India’s urban population and economic output, making them crucial to understanding broader national trends.
Under the proposed framework, two thematic reports will be released annually. The first will focus on employment conditions in million-plus cities, offering key labour market indicators such as Labour Force Participation Rate, Worker Population Ratio and Unemployment Rate. These metrics are expected to provide a clearer picture of how urban labour markets are evolving, particularly in the context of migration, informal employment and changing economic structures.
The second report will examine the urban informal sector, which remains a dominant yet often under-documented component of India’s economy. By analysing data from unincorporated sector enterprises, the report will capture the scale, structure, employment patterns and economic performance of informal businesses operating within these cities. This is particularly significant given that a large proportion of urban employment in India is concentrated in informal activities that fall outside formal regulatory frameworks.
Officials indicate that both reports will be published in accessible, user-friendly formats and made available in the public domain. This approach is intended to ensure that the data can be widely used by policymakers, researchers, industry stakeholders and civil society organisations. By making city-level statistics more transparent and easily accessible, the initiative seeks to foster a more informed and participatory approach to urban governance.
Beyond improving data availability, the initiative is also expected to contribute to more accurate estimation of city-level Gross Domestic Product, an area where India currently lacks consistent methodologies and reliable datasets. Better data on employment and enterprise activity could significantly enhance the understanding of economic output at the city level, enabling more targeted and effective policy interventions.
The proposal comes at a time when India is undergoing a rapid urban transformation, with millions of people migrating to cities in search of better opportunities. This shift has placed increasing pressure on urban infrastructure, housing, employment and public services, making the need for precise and timely data more urgent than ever. By bringing cities into sharper analytical focus, the government aims to equip decision-makers with the tools needed to address these complex challenges.
As part of the process, MoSPI has released a consultation paper outlining the proposed framework and has invited feedback from stakeholders, including academics, policymakers, industry representatives and the general public. Comments and suggestions have been sought until 15 May 2026, indicating that the final structure of the reports will be shaped through a consultative approach.
The ministry has emphasised that the initiative is not merely a statistical exercise but a broader effort to strengthen governance at all levels. By bridging critical data gaps, the proposed reports are expected to support more effective planning, improve policy outcomes and enhance accountability in urban administration.
