Time Use Survey (TUS) 2024

1. At a Glance

• Time Use Survey (TUS) 2024 is the second all-India TUS conducted by MoSPI / NSO, measuring how individuals allocate time across paid work, unpaid domestic work, caregiving, learning, leisure and self-care [1][2].
• Its primary objective: measure participation of men vs women in paid and unpaid activities, critical for capturing the care economy invisible to GDP and SNA [1][2].
• UPSC relevance: feeds debates on gender equality (SDG-5), female labour force participation, care economy, and statistical reform [1].

2. Why in the News

• The report of TUS 2024 was released by MoSPI on 25 February 2025 (covering reference year Jan–Dec 2024); a follow-up PIB clarification/coverage appeared on 25 March 2026 [2][3].
• Marks the first repeat of TUS after the inaugural 2019 round, enabling 5-year trend comparison on time allocation [1].

3. Background & Evolution

• First pilot TUS in India: 1998–99 across 6 states (Haryana, MP, Gujarat, Odisha, TN, Meghalaya) — a methodological pilot [2].
• First all-India TUS: January–December 2019, released 2020 [4].
• Second all-India TUS: January–December 2024, released 25 Feb 2025 [2].
• Aligns with UN International Classification of Activities for Time Use Statistics (ICATUS 2016), integrating with System of National Accounts (SNA) framework [1].

4. Core Static Facts

• Conducting agency: National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) [1][2].
• Reference period: 24 hours from 4:00 AM previous day to 4:00 AM interview day, split into 48 slots of 30 minutes each [2].
• Sample covered: 1,39,487 households (rural 83,247 + urban 56,240); 4,54,192 individuals aged 6+ (rural 2,85,389 + urban 1,68,803) [1].
• Mode: CAPI (Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews) [1].
• Age threshold for activity data: 6 years and above [2].
• Activity classification: ICATUS 2016 framework [1].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Social / Gender

• Female participation in employment-related activities (15–59 yrs): rose from 21.8% (2019) → 25% (2024); male: 70.9% → 75% [1].
• Female participation in unpaid caregiving (15–59 yrs): 32.8% (2019) → 41% (2024); male: 16.2% → 21.4% [3].
• Average unpaid caregiving time/day: women 140 min vs men 74 min (TUS 2024) — persistent gender gap [3].
• Unpaid domestic service time by women (15–59 yrs) fell 315 → 305 min/day, signalling marginal shift from unpaid to paid work [1].

Economic

• Quantifies invisible care economy — basis for valuing non-SNA work in GDP debates [1].
• Inputs for PLFS, NFHS, NITI Aayog SDG Index and gender budgeting [1].

Administrative / Statistical

• Conducted alongside revamped PLFS (monthly from 2025) and HCES under MoSPI's statistical modernisation drive [1].
• CAPI deployment marks shift away from paper schedules [1].

Ethical / Governance

• Strengthens evidence base for SDG 5.4 (recognise and value unpaid care/domestic work) and SDG 8.5 [1].

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• 25 Feb 2025: Factsheet & report of TUS 2024 released by MoSPI [2].
• 2025: Data Users' Conference on TUS 2024 held to disseminate methodology and findings to researchers/policy users [5].
• 25 Mar 2026: PIB press release reiterating headline TUS 2024 findings on caregiving [3].

7. Prelims Hooks

• TUS 2024 conducted by MoSPI (NSO) — not by NITI Aayog or Census office [1].
• Second all-India TUS; first was in 2019 [2].
• Reference period: 24 hours, 48 slots of 30 minutes starting 4 AM [2].
• Sample households: 1,39,487; individuals: 4,54,192 [1].
• Data collected for persons aged 6 years and above [2].
• 708 minutes/day spent on self-care and maintenance by persons 6+ years (TUS 2024) [2].
• 89.3% of children aged 6–14 participated in learning activities, spending ~413 min/day [2].
• Female employment participation (15–59) rose to 25% (from 21.8% in 2019) [1].
• Women's unpaid caregiving time/day = 140 min, men = 74 min [3].
• 41% of women vs 21.4% of men (15–59) did unpaid caregiving in 2024 [3].
• Share of time on cultural, leisure, mass media & sports rose from 9.9% (2019) → 11% (2024) [1].
• Mode of data collection: CAPI [1].
• Aligned with ICATUS 2016 classification [1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-I: Society — Role of women; gender division of labour.
• GS-II: Governance — Welfare schemes; statistical institutions; SDG-5 implementation.
• GS-III: Indian Economy — Employment; care economy; female labour force participation; data for planning.

Likely stems:

• "Discuss how Time Use Survey 2024 illuminates the unpaid care economy and its implications for gender budgeting in India."
• "Despite rising female participation in paid work, the burden of unpaid domestic and care work remains skewed against women. Examine in light of TUS 2024."
• "Evaluate the role of MoSPI's recent statistical reforms (PLFS, HCES, TUS) in strengthening evidence-based policymaking."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2024-25 — complementary employment data.
• Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022-23 / 2023-24 — companion MoSPI survey.
• NFHS-5 — gender, household indicators.
• SDG India Index (NITI Aayog) — SDG 5 indicators draw on TUS.
• National Statistical Commission & MoSPI reforms — institutional context.
• Care Economy & Gender Budgeting in India — policy frame.
• ICATUS 2016 (UN) — international classification standard.
• Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) debates — RBI & World Bank notes.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing TUS with PLFS — TUS measures time allocation, PLFS measures employment/unemployment status.
• Wrongly attributing TUS to NITI Aayog or NSC — it is conducted by NSO under MoSPI.
• Treating 2024 round as first — first all-India TUS was 2019 (pilot was 1998-99).
• Using 15+ years as the age cutoff — TUS covers 6 years and above (with several indicators reported for 15–59 yrs).
• Mixing up 24-hour reference (TUS) vs 7-day reference (PLFS CWS).