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

Q1. How many quinquennial Employment-Unemployment Surveys were conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) — beginning with the 27th round (1972-73) and ending with the round that was eventually superseded by the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) launched in 2017?

  • A. 5
  • B. 7
  • C. 8
  • D. 10

Q2. In the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Monthly Bulletin released by the National Statistical Office, which one of the following is the reference period used for compiling the headline all-India labour force indicators (LFPR, WPR and UR)?

  • A. Last 7 days preceding the date of survey
  • B. Last 30 days preceding the date of survey
  • C. Last 183 days preceding the date of survey
  • D. Last 365 days preceding the date of survey

Q3. In the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), how many days constitute the reference period used for determining the Usual Activity Status (ps+ss) of a person?

  • A. 7 days
  • B. 30 days
  • C. 180 days
  • D. 365 days

Q4. With reference to the indicators published in the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Monthly Bulletin, consider the following pairs of indicator and definition: 1. Labour Force Participation Rate — percentage of persons in the labour force (i.e. working or seeking/available for work) in the population. 2. Worker Population Ratio — percentage of employed persons in the total population. 3. Unemployment Rate — percentage of unemployed persons in the total population. 4. Current Weekly Status — activity status determined on the basis of a reference period of the last 365 days preceding the date of survey. Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

  1. Labour Force Participation Rate — percentage of persons in the labour force (i.e. working or seeking/available for work) in the population.
  2. Worker Population Ratio — percentage of employed persons in the total population.
  3. Unemployment Rate — percentage of unemployed persons in the total population.
  4. Current Weekly Status — activity status determined on the basis of a reference period of the last 365 days preceding the date of survey.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 only

Q5. With reference to the way labour market indicators are measured under the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), consider the following statements comparing the Usual Status (ps+ss) approach with the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach: 1. Under the Usual Status (ps+ss) approach the reference period is the 365 days preceding the date of survey, whereas under the Current Weekly Status approach the reference period is the 7 days preceding the date of survey. 2. The PLFS Monthly Bulletin publishes LFPR, WPR and Unemployment Rate at the all-India level following the Current Weekly Status approach, and not the Usual Status approach. 3. Both the Usual Status and the Current Weekly Status approaches define the Unemployment Rate as the share of unemployed persons in the total population aged 15 years and above. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Under the Usual Status (ps+ss) approach the reference period is the 365 days preceding the date of survey, whereas under the Current Weekly Status approach the reference period is the 7 days preceding the date of survey.
  2. The PLFS Monthly Bulletin publishes LFPR, WPR and Unemployment Rate at the all-India level following the Current Weekly Status approach, and not the Usual Status approach.
  3. Both the Usual Status and the Current Weekly Status approaches define the Unemployment Rate as the share of unemployed persons in the total population aged 15 years and above.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Which one of the following agencies conducts the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) under its revamped 2025 design and releases the monthly bulletin?

  • A. Central Statistics Office (CSO) under NITI Aayog
  • B. National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
  • C. National Statistical Commission under the Ministry of Labour & Employment
  • D. Directorate General of Employment under the Ministry of Labour & Employment

Q7. Under the rotational panel design adopted in the revamped Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) from January 2025, how many times is each selected household visited?

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

Q8. As per the PLFS Monthly Bulletin for May 2026, by how many percentage points did the urban Unemployment Rate (persons aged 15 years and above, Current Weekly Status) decline compared with May 2025?

  • A. 0.2 percentage points
  • B. 0.5 percentage points
  • C. 0.7 percentage points
  • D. 1.0 percentage point

Q9. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Monthly Bulletin released in June 2026 is brought out by which one of the following organisations?

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

Q10. In the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which one of the following is the primary criterion used to assign a person's Usual Principal Activity Status?

  • A. The activity on which the person spent the major part of time during the 365 days preceding the date of survey
  • B. The activity in which the person was engaged for at least 30 days during the 365 days preceding the date of survey
  • C. The activity pursued by the person on any day during the 7 days preceding the date of survey
  • D. The activity that yielded the highest income to the person during the 365 days preceding the date of survey

Q11. With reference to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), consider the following statements regarding its institutional and methodological features: 1. It is conducted by the National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. 2. It adopts a stratified multi-stage sampling design in which households constitute the ultimate stage units. 3. It exclusively covers establishments employing twenty or more persons in the organised sector. 4. It has entirely replaced the decennial Population Census as the source of employment and unemployment indicators in India. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. It is conducted by the National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
  2. It adopts a stratified multi-stage sampling design in which households constitute the ultimate stage units.
  3. It exclusively covers establishments employing twenty or more persons in the organised sector.
  4. It has entirely replaced the decennial Population Census as the source of employment and unemployment indicators in India.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q12. With reference to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) and the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) payroll data, consider the following statements: 1. While PLFS estimates are derived from a sample household survey, EPFO payroll figures are drawn from administrative records of covered formal-sector establishments. 2. Unlike PLFS, which is conducted under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, EPFO functions under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. 3. The Unemployment Rate published in the PLFS Monthly Bulletin is computed by subtracting net EPFO subscriber additions from the estimated labour force. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. While PLFS estimates are derived from a sample household survey, EPFO payroll figures are drawn from administrative records of covered formal-sector establishments.
  2. Unlike PLFS, which is conducted under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, EPFO functions under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
  3. The Unemployment Rate published in the PLFS Monthly Bulletin is computed by subtracting net EPFO subscriber additions from the estimated labour force.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3