Parliament Question: Compilation of Rural Wage Statistics

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3639 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.08.2026 COMPILATION OF RURAL WAGE STATISTICS

3639. SHRI VE VAITHILINGAM:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to

state:

(a)the details of revisions made by the Labour Bureau in the methodology adopted for compilation of rural wage statistics and labour market indicators in the country;

(b)the details of measures taken by the Government to ensure that wage trends across the States and Union Territories, including Puducherry are adequately reflected in official labour statistics;

(c)the details of rural wage growth recorded in Puducherry and other States/Union Territories during the recent period and the factors contributing to variations therein;

(d)the manner in which the Government utilises wage data for formulation of employment, skill development and social protection policies; and

(e)the details of steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to strengthen labour market data systems and support income growth and livelihood security for rural workers across the country? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a) to (e): Labour Bureau, an attached office of the Ministry of Labour & Employment, revised the methodology, from July 2025, for compilation of the Rural Wage Rate series for 25 selected occupations to improve its representativeness by expanding sample villages bringing additional States and Union Territories, including Puducherry, within the sample, in line with the corresponding change in the sample villages for the revised Consumer Price Index for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers (CPI-AL/RL) 2019=100.

Contd..2/-:: 2 ::

Labour being in the Concurrent List, both the Central Government and the State Governments are empowered to fix, review and revise minimum wages. Further, minimum wages for most categories of workers are determined and implemented by the respective State Governments in accordance with the provisions of the Code on Wages, 2019 and the earlier Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (now subsumed under the Code).

Variations in wage rates across States and UTs arise from factors such as local labour demand and supply conditions, seasonal activity, regional economic conditions etc.

Wage rates data are critical inputs for determination of disability benefits, social security contributions, identification of skill gaps etc.

The Central Government in coordination with State Governments is implementing various schemes for creating employment opportunities and livelihood in the country. These include Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission

(Gramin), Aajeevika-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), Rural Self Employment and Training Institutes (RSETIs), PM- SVANidhi Scheme, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), PM Vishwakarma Scheme, Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY), to name a few.

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