UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PERIODIC LABOUR FORCE SURVEY (PLFS) MONTHLY BULLETIN April, 2026

Q1. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), whose monthly bulletin is regularly released, is conducted by which one of the following?

  • A. Labour Bureau under the Ministry of Labour and Employment
  • B. National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • C. Central Statistical Institute under NITI Aayog
  • D. Directorate General of Employment under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

Q2. With reference to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) and its predecessor, the Employment and Unemployment Surveys (EUS) of the NSSO, consider the following statements: 1. The PLFS was launched in April 2017, replacing the quinquennial Employment and Unemployment Surveys of the NSSO. 2. Unlike the earlier EUS rounds which were conducted once in every five years, the PLFS provides annual labour force estimates for both rural and urban areas, and from January 2025 it also provides monthly estimates at the all-India level. 3. Unlike the earlier EUS rounds, the PLFS relies solely on the Usual Status (ps+ss) approach and does not use the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The PLFS was launched in April 2017, replacing the quinquennial Employment and Unemployment Surveys of the NSSO.
  2. Unlike the earlier EUS rounds which were conducted once in every five years, the PLFS provides annual labour force estimates for both rural and urban areas, and from January 2025 it also provides monthly estimates at the all-India level.
  3. Unlike the earlier EUS rounds, the PLFS relies solely on the Usual Status (ps+ss) approach and does not use the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. With reference to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) and its predecessor surveys, consider the following statements: 1. The PLFS was launched in April 2017 by the National Sample Survey Office, replacing the quinquennial Employment and Unemployment Surveys. 2. Unlike the earlier Employment-Unemployment Surveys, the PLFS estimates labour market indicators only on the Usual Status basis and does not employ the Current Weekly Status approach. 3. In the Current Weekly Status approach the activity status is determined on the basis of a reference period of the last 7 days preceding the date of survey, whereas the Usual Status uses a reference period of the last 365 days. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The PLFS was launched in April 2017 by the National Sample Survey Office, replacing the quinquennial Employment and Unemployment Surveys.
  2. Unlike the earlier Employment-Unemployment Surveys, the PLFS estimates labour market indicators only on the Usual Status basis and does not employ the Current Weekly Status approach.
  3. In the Current Weekly Status approach the activity status is determined on the basis of a reference period of the last 7 days preceding the date of survey, whereas the Usual Status uses a reference period of the last 365 days.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in India is conducted by which one of the following organisations?

  • A. Labour Bureau under the Ministry of Labour and Employment
  • B. National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • C. Central Statistical Institute under NITI Aayog
  • D. Directorate General of Employment under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

Q5. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which provides employment and unemployment estimates in both 'Usual Status (ps+ss)' and 'Current Weekly Status (CWS)' approaches, is conducted in India by which one of the following organisations?

  • A. Central Statistics Office under the Ministry of Labour and Employment
  • B. National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • C. Labour Bureau under the Ministry of Labour and Employment
  • D. National Sample Survey Office under NITI Aayog

Q6. Under the Usual Status (ps+ss) approach of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), what is the minimum number of days for which a person must have performed an economic activity (in addition to his/her usual principal status) during the 365-day reference period to be assigned a 'subsidiary economic activity status'?

  • A. 7 days
  • B. 15 days
  • C. 30 days
  • D. 60 days

Q7. With reference to the revamp of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) effected from January 2025, consider the following statements: 1. The monthly rotational panel scheme has been extended to both rural and urban areas. 2. The number of households surveyed within each selected First Stage Unit has been reduced from 12 to 8. 3. The monthly all-India estimates of key labour market indicators are generated using the Usual Status (ps+ss) approach. 4. The rotation scheme ensures that 75% of the First Stage Units are matched between two consecutive months. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The monthly rotational panel scheme has been extended to both rural and urban areas.
  2. The number of households surveyed within each selected First Stage Unit has been reduced from 12 to 8.
  3. The monthly all-India estimates of key labour market indicators are generated using the Usual Status (ps+ss) approach.
  4. The rotation scheme ensures that 75% of the First Stage Units are matched between two consecutive months.
  • A. 1 and 4
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 3 only

Q8. The Monthly Bulletin of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), introduced as part of the January 2025 revamp, is released by which one of the following?

  • A. National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • B. Labour Bureau under the Ministry of Labour and Employment
  • C. Central Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance
  • D. Directorate General of Employment under NITI Aayog

Q9. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Monthly Bulletin for April 2026, which one of the following indicators for persons aged 15 years and above in urban areas (Current Weekly Status) remained unchanged month-on-month at 46.8%?

  • A. Labour Force Participation Rate
  • B. Worker Population Ratio
  • C. Unemployment Rate
  • D. Female Labour Force Participation Rate

Q10. From which month was the revamped Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), featuring a monthly rotational panel sampling design extended to both rural and urban areas, formally implemented?

  • A. April 2017, when PLFS replaced the quinquennial Employment-Unemployment Surveys
  • B. May 2019, with the release of the first PLFS Annual Report
  • C. January 2025, as part of the revamped sample design
  • D. April 2025, with the launch of the PLFS Monthly Bulletin series

Q11. Under the revamped Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) rotational panel design introduced in January 2025, how many times is each selected household visited?

  • A. Two times in two consecutive months
  • B. Three times in three consecutive quarters
  • C. Four times in four consecutive months
  • D. Twelve times in twelve consecutive months

Q12. In the context of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the term 'Current Weekly Status (CWS)' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Activity status of a person determined on the basis of a reference period of the last 7 days preceding the date of survey
  • B. Activity status of a person determined on the basis of a reference period of the last 365 days preceding the date of survey
  • C. Activity status of a person on the day immediately preceding the date of survey
  • D. Activity status of a person determined on the basis of a reference period of the last 30 days preceding the date of survey

Q13. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), under which workers are classified into self-employed, regular wage/salaried and casual labour categories, is conducted by which one of the following?

  • A. Labour Bureau under the Ministry of Labour and Employment
  • B. National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • C. Central Statistical Organisation under NITI Aayog
  • D. Directorate General of Employment under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

Q14. With reference to the approaches used by the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) to determine the activity status of a person, consider the following statements: 1. In the Usual Status (ps+ss) approach, activity status is determined with reference to the 365 days preceding the date of survey. 2. In the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach, the reference period is the 30 days preceding the date of survey. 3. The PLFS Monthly Bulletins released since January 2025 use the Current Weekly Status approach for their headline labour market indicators. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. In the Usual Status (ps+ss) approach, activity status is determined with reference to the 365 days preceding the date of survey.
  2. In the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach, the reference period is the 30 days preceding the date of survey.
  3. The PLFS Monthly Bulletins released since January 2025 use the Current Weekly Status approach for their headline labour market indicators.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3