Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE): FAQs

The National Statistics Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), has introduced the Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE) as the first dedicated annual survey of India’s incorporated services sector. Beginning in April 2026 with the reference period of FY 2024–25, the survey covers companies and LLPs registered under the Companies Act or LLP Act across all States and Union Territories. Using the GSTN database as the sampling frame, approximately 1.21 lakh enterprises will be surveyed through a secure web portal. ASISSE aims to generate comprehensive statistics on Gross Value Added (GVA), Net Value Added (NVA), employment, emoluments, fixed capital, working capital, enterprise performance, and financial characteristics. It complements the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) and Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE), providing a holistic picture of India’s non-agricultural economy. The survey follows internationally accepted statistical standards, uses NIC 2025 and CPC 3.0 classifications, and is intended to strengthen evidence-based policymaking, economic research, and National Accounts compilation.

The accompanying “Know Your Survey: A User Guide to ASISSE” explains survey objectives, coverage, methodology, legal obligations, confidentiality safeguards, and reporting procedures in a simple and accessible format. The guide clarifies that participation is mandatory for selected enterprises under the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, as amended, and the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023. It provides detailed guidance on enterprise selection, GSTIN-based reporting, treatment of multi-location businesses, required records, self-compilation through the online portal, and validation procedures. The document assures respondents that all information collected is strictly confidential, used solely for statistical purposes, and published only in aggregated form without identifying individual businesses or employees. It also includes frequently asked questions, technical definitions, respondent support mechanisms, and contact details for assistance. Through this initiative, NSO seeks to improve transparency, compliance, data quality, stakeholder awareness, and public trust while creating a reliable statistical foundation for informed economic decision-making.

Know Your Survey – A User Guide to The Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE)

Government of India
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
National Statistics Office

April, 2026

Message From the Desk of the Director General, NSS

The services sector has emerged as a key driver of India’s economic growth, contributing substantially to the economy, fostering innovation, and generating significant employment across diverse segments of the economy. In line with its strong commitment to provide high-quality data for evidence-based policymaking, the National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, has continuously expanded and modernised its survey framework. However, comprehensive data on the incorporated services sector have remained relatively limited within the NSO survey framework. The Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE) has been conceptualized as the first dedicated annual survey of this sector, leveraging the GSTN database as the sampling frame. It seeks to generate reliable and granular information on enterprise structure, performance, employment, and financial characteristics, thereby strengthening the evidence base for policy formulation, research, and National Accounts compilation.

This document, “Know Your Survey: A User Guide to the Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE)”, has been prepared by the Enterprise Survey Division of the National Sample Survey (NSS) as a user-oriented guide. It seeks to provide a clear understanding of the objectives, scope, coverage, concepts, definitions, methodology, data quality assurance practices, and expected outputs of ASISSE. Through this initiative, the NSO reaffirms its commitment to transparency and to fostering an informed data ecosystem by communicating survey processes in a user-friendly and accessible way to its stakeholders.

While the survey design is anchored in sound statistical principles and internationally accepted standards, conscious efforts have been made to present this guide in clear and simple language, minimizing technical terminology wherever possible. The document also includes a dedicated section for respondent enterprises, addressing common queries and explaining the survey procedures, confidentiality safeguards, and the importance of accurate and timely reporting.

It is hoped that this document will assist users in understanding the scope and significance of ASISSE and promote wider and more effective utilization of data on the incorporated services sector for evidence-based decision-making.

(Ms. Geeta Singh Rathore)
Director General,
National Sample Survey
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
Government of India

Abbreviations used in this document

ASISSE 2026 at a glance

Name of the Survey: Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE)

Survey Commencement: April, 2026

Reference period: Financial Year 2024 – 25 (1^st April, 2024 to 31^st March, 2025)

Geographical Coverage: Whole of India

Survey Coverage: Corporate entities i.e., entities registered under Companies Act, 1956 or Companies Act, 2013 or Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 and belonging to the service sector

Sectoral Coverage: Incorporated Construction, Trade and Other Services

Unit of reporting: GSTN enterprise (a GSTN unit conducting operations in a particular state)

Sample Size: 121,350 enterprises

Economic Activity Classification: National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025

Product/Service Classification: Central Product Classification (CPC) 3.0 (Draft)

Method of Data collection: Through a secure web-portal

About the Survey

Q.1 What is ASISSE and why is this survey conducted?

Ans. The Annual Survey of Incorporated Services Sector Enterprises (ASISSE) is conducted to build a comprehensive database on the incorporated services sector in India. The survey also aims to generate indicators like Gross Value Added (GVA), Fixed Capital, Employment, Emoluments Paid, etc. pertaining to the incorporated services sector. The data support evidence-based policymaking and analysis of the structure, performance, and contribution of the incorporated services sector enterprises.

Q.2 Who is conducting the survey?

Ans. The survey is conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India.

Q.3 What is NSO and why does it conduct surveys?

Ans. The National Statistics Office (NSO) is the apex statistical body under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India. It is responsible for coordinating statistical activities across the country and conducting large-scale surveys to generate reliable and robust economic, social, and sectoral indicators for evidence-based policymaking.

Q.4 How often is the survey conducted?

Ans. ASISSE is to be conducted annually, starting from the year 2026 with the immediately preceding financial year (FY) i.e. FY 2024-25 (1^st April 2024 – 31^st March 2025) as the reference year. Data collection exercise for the survey is to be carried out by the Field Operations Division (FOD) of MoSPI.

Q.5 Who prepares the questionnaire for the survey and how is it designed?

Ans. The questionnaire, sampling design and other survey instruments are developed by the Enterprise Survey Division (EnSD) of MoSPI, in consultation with expert groups and various stakeholders across government, industry, research, and academia. The draft questionnaire is also placed on the website of the ministry inviting comments from public before finalization.

Q.6 How can I confirm that the survey is genuine?

Ans. You can be assured that the survey is genuine. The notices will be issued by the Statistics Authority declared for the state/UT (and notified in the Gazette). Our field personnel from the Field Operations Division (FOD) of National Statistics Office (NSO) will visit with an official photo identity card issued by NSO, Government of India. If you still wish to verify, you may contact your nearest NSO Field Office (the contact details will be available with the visiting field personnel/notice) or check the survey information on the MoSPI website to confirm the authenticity of the visit.

Q.7 How are the survey results used?

Ans. The data are used to produce official statistics on the incorporated services sector, supporting evidence-based policy formulation, research, and economic analysis.

Q.8 Where can survey results be accessed?

Ans. Survey findings and reports will be released through press notes and made available on the MoSPI website.

Q.9 Why is my participation important?

Ans. Your participation to this survey is critical as your enterprise represents not only itself, but many other enterprises like yours in the economy and cannot be replaced by simply selecting another establishment. The information you furnish helps policymakers, companies, researchers and organizations to understand the economy at large. None of this would be possible without your participation. All the information you provide is strictly confidential and protected and collected solely for statistical purposes.

Coverage and Selection of Enterprises

Q.10 What is meant by an enterprise in ASISSE?

Ans. In ASISSE, the term enterprise refers to a GSTN (Goods and Services Tax Network) unit conducting operations within a particular State. For operating in a State, each unit is allotted a unique, state-specific GSTIN (Goods and Services Tax Identification Number) against the address of its principal place of business. Each such unique GSTIN shall be treated as a separate enterprise for the purpose of ASISSE.

Q.11 Which enterprises are covered in ASISSE?

Ans. ASISSE covers incorporated service sector enterprises registered under the Companies Act, 1956, or Companies Act, 2013, or Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 and engaged in services sector. Unincorporated enterprises are excluded. The survey collects information on key operational, economic, and employment-related aspects of the selected enterprises. Geographically, the survey covers all the States and Union Territories.

Business type-wise, corporate entities like, Limited Liability Partnerships, Private Limited Companies, Public Limited Companies, Public Sector Undertakings, Unlimited Companies etc. are included in the survey coverage.

Q.12 Why is my enterprise selected?

Ans. ASISSE covers the incorporated service sector. So, all the companies belonging to this sector constitute the sampling frame for this survey. Selection of enterprises is made considering several factors, like, activity pursued, turnover of the company, etc. Some units are included with certainty as they contribute substantially to their particular industry or region. Generally, large businesses are included in a survey sample because the information they provide will have significant impact in the region and/or industry they operate. The remaining companies are selected randomly on sample basis through a process of scientific sampling because they perform differently, giving more balance and integrity to the overall results. We collect information from a smaller group to produce estimates for the entire population. Further, the information your business provides is regarded simply as a representation of many other similar companies in the region and/or industry you belong to.

Q.13 Is the selection process fair?

Ans. Yes. sampling procedures adopted by NSO are based on the sound statistical theories and principles. The sampling procedure is also vetted by technical committees, comprising of domain experts. There is no amount of subjectivity/bias in selection of samples and our sampling strategy and selection criteria is aligned with globally accepted best practices. While large enterprises (in terms of turnover) having significant impact on the region/industry they belong to are selected with certainty, smaller enterprises of a similar size and within the same industry have the same probability of being selected.

How to Respond to the survey

Q.14 What if my enterprise does not belong to the surveyed sector or has closed down or is temporarily inactive?

Ans. Your company was selected because it filed GSTN return for the financial year 2024-25 and has reported some activities that are covered in this survey. Data collected for ASISSE 2026 pertains to the financial year 2024-25 (April 2024 – March 2025). If your company was operational during this time, please fill up the questionnaire accordingly. If you still believe that your enterprise does not belong to the surveyed sector, then please provide appropriate code against the items “Status of enterprise during the accounting period” in Block 1 of the questionnaire and fill up the remaining part accordingly. However, our field officials may ask for relevant records to ascertain your claim.

Q.15 What if my enterprise operates in more than location or carries out multiple activities?

Ans. If your enterprise carries out more than one activity or operates in multiple locations within the same state with same GSTIN, then you will have to provide the combined information for all such activities/locations. However, if the enterprise with such activity or location has a separate GSTIN, then you need not report such activity/location in this questionnaire if that GSTN is not selected for the survey. If both the GSTINs are selected for the survey, then you have to provide information separately for each of these GSTINs.

Q.16 If two GSTINs are maintained by an enterprise, shall information be furnished for both of them?

Ans. Information needs to be furnished for the selected GSTIN only. If separate accounts for each of these enterprises are not maintained/available, apportioning may be done to split the GSTIN based enterprise level information from the combined books of accounts. If both the GSTINs are selected, then information is to be furnished for both of them separately.

Since each GSTIN enterprise selected in the survey represent many other similar GSTIN enterprises (and hence have a sampling weight attached with it which may vary from one selected enterprise to another), combining the data of multiple GSTIN enterprises would distort the estimate and hence should never be attempted.

Q.17 Do I need to furnish responses for all the establishments (additional places of business) taken together having the same GSTIN?

Ans. Yes. Your enterprise (GSTIN) may have one or more establishments (additional places of business) in the same state operating under the selected GSTIN. The collective information on the selected GSTIN, taking all the establishments together, is required to be furnished.

Q.18 An enterprise is having two GSTIN registered in two States with a single balance sheet for the two registered GSTINs. Whether to cover all the activities pertaining to the balance sheet?

Ans. No, the ASISSE questionnaire should be filled up for the selected GSTIN only and the activity/activities under coverage of ASISSE within the State by suitable apportioning, if required.

Q.19 An enterprise, apart from trading activity, is pursuing manufacturing activities as well. Whether such manufacturing activities can be reported in ASISSE?

Ans. Manufacturing activities shall not be covered under ASISSE. For enterprises pursuing multiple activities belonging to both manufacturing and service sector, only the activities pertaining to the service sector shall be covered in ASISSE. Suitable apportioning/estimation may be carried out in this regard.

Q.20 An enterprise having a GSTIN in a State is selected in the survey. However, all information is maintained at Headquarter which is situated in some other State. What to do in such scenario?

Ans. The selected GSTIN should consult the Headquarter (situated in other State) and collect all the requisite information, pertaining to the selected GSTIN and fill-up the questionnaire.

Q.21 How is data collected in ASISSE?

Ans. Data are collected through a secure web portal using a structured questionnaire. The login credentials required to access and fill in the questionnaire on the portal are provided in the official notice sent to your enterprise.

Q.22 Who will contact the enterprise for the survey?

Ans. A statutory notice will be issued by the designated Statistics Authority declared under the Collection of Statistics Act. Field officials from NSO (FOD) may then contact you for the purpose of collection of data or verifying the information provided by you.

Q.23 Can I fill the questionnaire myself?

Ans. Yes. It is desirable that you fill the questionnaire yourself only. NSO, MoSPI encourages all the selected companies to fill the questionnaire in self-compilation mode. However, if your company still needs help/guidance for filling the questionnaire, you may contact the concerned field office (as mentioned in the Notice sent). Even if you have self-compiled your questionnaire and submitted it through the portal, in case any discrepancy is observed in the filled-in questionnaire, the field staff of FOD may pay a visit to your enterprise to verify the information from the relevant documents. All cooperation to the person(s) visiting your enterprise for the purpose of verifying the return may be extended.

Q.24 What records or documents are required to fill the questionnaire?

Ans. The following documents may help you in filling up the questionnaire.

• Balance sheet with schedules and annexures; Profit and loss account, ledger, tax register etc. for filling up blocks related to fixed assets, working capital, receipts and expenses
• Various Registers maintained by the companies for compliance and administrative purposes such as employee register, muster roll, attendance register, wage register, leave register, etc. that are required to verify labour and emoluments related information
• Any other documents that may be of use in filling up the questionnaire

Q.25 Do I have to answer all the questions?

Ans. Answering all the questions of the questionnaire is mandatory in order to complete the survey. However, not all blocks in the questionnaire are required to be filled in for your enterprise. The number of blocks you need to furnish responses to depend on the type of activity you pursue; the other blocks will remain disabled in the web portal. Please answer all the questions with regard to the enabled blocks to ensure that your experiences and circumstances are counted.

Q.26 If financial statements, including the balance sheet and profit-loss account, for the enterprise are not yet prepared for the financial year 2024-25, then how to fill in the questionnaire?

Ans. It is unlikely that financial statements, including the balance sheet and profit-loss account of an enterprise for the year 2024-2025 (April, 2024 – March, 2025) have not been prepared by March, 2026. However, if in an unlikely rare scenario, if it happens, then appropriate status code, along-with detailed reason, may be given. Field officials may verify your records.

Q.27 The enumerator has already collected information from your establishments. Can they still contact you again?

Ans. You may be contacted again for verification or, clarification of some of the responses to ensure accuracy of data. Such follow-ups are a standard part of NSO’s survey methodology. It is desired that you extend full co-operation with the field personnel in this regard.

Confidentiality, Compliance and Legal Provisions

Q.28 Is the survey legitimate and is it mandatory to provide data if an enterprise receives a notice?

Ans. Yes. ASISSE is conducted by NSO, MoSPI under the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, as amended in 2017 and through the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023. Hence, response to the survey is mandatory by law for selected enterprises. It requires the selected companies and LLPs that receive the notice (for a particular year) to fill the questionnaire and submit it within the stipulated time.

Q.29 Can an enterprise be exempted from the survey?

Ans. No. Once selected, a business is legally obliged to complete the survey because it is conducted under the provisions of the Collection of Statistics Act.

Q.30 Will the information provided by my enterprise remain confidential?

Ans. Certainly. The data for this survey are collected under the CoS Act. NSO is legally mandated to ensure the confidentiality of the data. All the information you provide is strictly confidential and protected and collected solely for statistical purposes. The information your business provides is regarded simply as a representation of the industry to which it belongs and aggregated using suitable statistical methodologies. Your data cannot be publicly released in any way that could identify your business, organization, or institution.

Q.31 Will personal information of employees be collected?

Ans. No, personal information on employees will not be collected in this survey; only aggregate information such as total number of employees by type of employees/gender along with their (aggregate) wage/salary, etc. will be collected. Adequate protection will be taken so as to prevent even indirect disclosure of any identity particular of any surveyed company or its employees.

Q.32 How will my responses be used?

Ans. All information that you provide is used exclusively to create accurate, reliable statistics about the incorporated services sector of the economy. These statistics help policy makers to take informed decisions. Hence accurate information about your business is very important. However, individual businesses cannot be identified in statistics or reports published by the NSO.

Q.33 How will NSO know whether the data I provide may be false?

Ans. For all the surveys conducted by NSO, various validation checks are built into the processing systems which identify any inconsistent values entered in response to a particular question. Any anomalies are queried with the enterprise and they are either corrected, or a note is made to explain why the anomaly has arisen. Wilfully providing false or misleading statement is an offense under the CoS Act. Further, ASISSE being a record-based survey, NSO can always cross-validate the information provided by you in the questionnaire with the official records maintained by you.

Technical Definitions

Q.34 What is the National Industrial Classification (NIC)?

Ans. The National Industrial Classification (NIC) is a statistical classification system used in India to classify economic activities of enterprises. It provides a standardized framework for organising and reporting data on economic activities and based on an internationally accepted classification framework.

Q.35 What is the Central Product Classification (CPC)?

Ans. The Central Product Classification (CPC) is an international statistical classification used to categorize goods and services based on the nature of the products produced or services delivered. It has been developed by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) to provide a standardized framework for collecting, compiling, and analysing data on product/services across countries.

Q.36 What is Output?

Ans. Output is the total value of goods and services produced by an enterprise during the reference period excluding the value of goods and services consumed by the same establishment except for goods and services used for capital formation (fixed capital or changes in inventories) or own final consumption. Output for own final use means products produced that are retained by the producer for their own use as final consumption or capital formation.

Q.37 What is meant by Intermediate Consumption?

Ans. Intermediate consumption consists of the value of goods and services consumed as inputs in the production process during the reference period excluding fixed assets whose consumption is recorded as depreciation.

Q.38 What is Gross Value Added (GVA)?

Ans. Gross Value Added (GVA) is the value of output produced by an enterprise minus the value of intermediate consumption used in the production process during the reference period.

Q.39 What is meant by Net Value Added (NVA)?

Ans. Net Value Added (NVA) is the value of output produced by an enterprise after deducting both the value of intermediate consumption and consumption of fixed capital (depreciation).

Q.40 What is Working Capital?

Ans. Working capital is the excess of current assets over current liabilities available for financing the routine operations of an enterprise.

Help and Support

Q.41 Is there any reference manual that I can refer to which explains the concepts and definitions and also each question asked in the survey questionnaire?

Ans. A comprehensive Instruction Manual is prepared detailing all the aspects of the survey and the same can be found in the website of the MoSPI. The instruction manual is made available to the field functionaries before the start of the survey.

Q.42 Can I give NSO feedback on the design of its questionnaires?

Ans. Yes. NSO will appreciate the time you take to complete our questionnaires. If there is anything which you find confusing or difficult, NSO would like to know. Please email your queries/suggestions on tc.dpd@mospi.gov.in.

Q.43 My Company’s name has been changed since GSTN registration. What should I do?

Ans. If the company’s name has undergone changes while retaining the same GSTIN, the questionnaire may be filled in with the updated name.

Q.44 My company is no longer operating from the given address. What should I do?

Ans. If the company’s address has undergone changes while retaining the same GSTIN, the address may be updated and the questionnaire is required to be filled in on the basis of balance sheets and other relevant documents with respect to the selected enterprise(s).

Q.45 Will I get paid for completing the survey?

Ans. No, there is no provision for offering any payment for completing the survey. It is a legal requirement of the company. However, NSO, MoSPI recognizes and appreciates the time and effort taken to complete the survey.