National Statistical Office Health Survey
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- Context: The National Statistical Office (NSO) recently released the results of its 80th round survey on ‘Household Social Consumption: Health (2025).’
- According to the NSO survey, health-seeking behaviour in India has improved. The Proportion of People Reporting Ailments (PPRA) has nearly doubled between the periods of 2017–18 and 2025.
- This figure rose from 6.8 percent to 12.2 percent in rural areas, and from 9.1 percent to 14.9 percent in urban areas.
- Government health insurance coverage has expanded significantly, driven by schemes such as the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY).
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- This coverage increased from 12.9 percent to 45.5 percent in rural areas, and from 8.9 percent to 31.8 percent in urban areas.
- Hospital-based deliveries have reached record highs of 95.6 percent in rural areas and 97.8 percent in urban areas, indicating improved healthcare access for mothers.
- There has been a shift in the disease profile, characterized by a decline in the prevalence of infectious diseases and a concurrent rise in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes and cardiovascular ailments.
- The utilization of government health facilities has increased, particularly in rural areas. Outpatient service utilization has risen from 28 percent in 2014 to 35 percent in 2025.
- This improvement in the utilization of government healthcare services is bolstered by the expansion of primary healthcare services which prioritize prevention, health promotion, and early diagnosis and treatment along with the provision of free medicines and diagnostic tests.
About the National Statistical Office (NSO)
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- The National Statistical Office (NSO) is the principal statistical agency of the Government of India.
- It functions under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
- It was established in 2019 through the merger of the Central Statistical Office (CSO) and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) to enhance coordination, data quality, and efficiency.
Authority and Role
- It is responsible for the collection, compilation, analysis, and dissemination of official statistics at the national level.
- It acts as the central authority for statistical standards, methodologies, and classifications utilized by Central Ministries and State governments.
- It supports evidence-based policy formulation, planning, and the monitoring of development programs.
Key Functions
- It conducts large-scale sample surveys on socio-economic indicators such as employment, consumption, health, education, and housing.
- It compiles National Accounts Statistics, including Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Gross Value Added (GVA), savings, investment, and capital formation.
- It releases key macro-economic indicators such as the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) and the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Key Data Products
- National Accounts Statistics (GDP and related aggregates).
- Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS).
- Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES).
- Annual Survey of Industries (ASI).
- Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
- Consumer Price Index (CPI – Rural, Urban, and Combined).
Organizational Structure
- Headed by the Chief Statistician of India (CSI).
- Operates through specialized divisions handling Surveys, National Accounts, Prices, Industrial Statistics, and Data Dissemination.
- Works in coordination with the Directorates of Economics and Statistics of the States for field-level data collection.
Significance
- Provides reliable and comparable statistics for economic planning, fiscal policy, targeting welfare schemes, and monitoring Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Enhances the transparency and credibility of India’s official statistical ecosystem.
- Plays a pivotal role in measuring economic performance and social progress.
