The Delhi government launches its Annual Survey of Industries for 2023-24. Discover how this deep dive into the manufacturing sector will shape future policies and provide a clear picture of Delhi’s industrial health.
In a significant move to understand the true pulse of its industrial sector the Delhi government has announced the launch of the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) for the financial year 2023-24. The initiative, spearheaded by the Planning Department aims to collect comprehensive data that will serve as a bedrock for future economic planning and policy-making.
The survey, officially notified by the Lieutenant Governor, will see government statistics officers fanning out across the national capital. The extensive data collection exercise is scheduled to be completed by February 2026, following which the data will be processed and analyzed by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics.
Why is This Survey a Big Deal?
For policymakers, this survey is more than just a data collection drive; it’s a diagnostic tool for the city’s economic health. The statistics gathered will provide an objective assessment of:
- Growth and Composition: How is Delhi’s organized manufacturing sector changing? Which industries are growing, and which are contracting?
- Employment Patterns: What is the state of employment, wages, and labour costs within the sector?
- Input and Output: A detailed look at what goes into the manufacturing process and what is produced, highlighting value addition within the city.
- Capital Formation: Insights into investments in assets and the financial structure of industrial units.
An official from the Planning Department explained that the survey is a “primary source of industrial statistics,” crucial for evaluating changes in the “growth, composition and structure” of organized manufacturing.
What (and Who) Will the Survey Cover?
The survey’s scope is wide-ranging. It will cover the organized manufacturing sector, including:
- Various manufacturing processes and repair services.
- Gas and water supply.
- Cold storage activities.
The exercise will encompass all factories and establishments registered under key acts like the Factories Act, 1948, the Companies Act, 2013, and the Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, among others.
Data will be collected on a prescribed electronic form and through field visits, covering crucial aspects like assets and liabilities, expenses, input items, products, and distributive expenses. A second part of the survey will delve deeper into labour statistics, including working days, wages, and social security benefits.
A Crucial Follow-Up to Previous Findings
This new survey gains added importance in light of the last ASI’s findings, which revealed that the number of operational factories in Delhi had decreased by 12% from 2020-21 to 2021-22. The 2023-24 survey will provide a critical update, showing whether this trend has continued or reversed, offering a fresh and vital snapshot of the sector’s resilience and trajectory.
By undertaking this comprehensive survey, the Delhi government is equipping itself with the evidence needed to craft targeted interventions, foster industrial growth, and ultimately, strengthen the capital’s economic foundation.
