UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — 7.92 crore unincorporated non-agricultural establishments driving economic expansion

Q1. With reference to the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2025 and its immediate predecessor ASUSE 2023-24, consider the following statements: 1. The reference period of ASUSE 2025 is the calendar year January to December 2025, whereas ASUSE 2023-24 followed a reference period of October 2023 to September 2024. 2. Unlike ASUSE 2023-24 which was confined to Manufacturing and Trade, ASUSE 2025 has for the first time extended coverage to the Other Services and Construction sectors. 3. Both ASUSE 2023-24 and ASUSE 2025 have been conducted by the National Sample Survey Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The reference period of ASUSE 2025 is the calendar year January to December 2025, whereas ASUSE 2023-24 followed a reference period of October 2023 to September 2024.
2. Unlike ASUSE 2023-24 which was confined to Manufacturing and Trade, ASUSE 2025 has for the first time extended coverage to the Other Services and Construction sectors.
3. Both ASUSE 2023-24 and ASUSE 2025 have been conducted by the National Sample Survey Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. With reference to the entities and activities covered within the scope of the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE), consider the following: 1. An unincorporated proprietary establishment engaged in manufacturing of garments. 2. A Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) running a wholesale trading business. 3. A partnership firm engaged in building and construction activity. 4. An unincorporated establishment in 'Other Services' run by a registered society or trust. Which of the above is/are correctly identified as being within the scope of ASUSE 2025?

1. An unincorporated proprietary establishment engaged in manufacturing of garments.
2. A Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) running a wholesale trading business.
3. A partnership firm engaged in building and construction activity.
4. An unincorporated establishment in 'Other Services' run by a registered society or trust.

• A. 1 and 3 only
• B. 2 and 4 only
• C. 1 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2 and 4

Q3. The Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE), 2025, whose results were released in 2026, was conducted solely under the authority of which one of the following?

• A. National Sample Survey Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
• B. Development Commissioner under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
• C. Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister under NITI Aayog
• D. Department of Statistics and Information Management of the Reserve Bank of India

Q4. As per the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2025 results, which one of the following broad sectors recorded the highest year-on-year growth in Gross Value Added (GVA)?

• A. Manufacturing
• B. Trade
• C. Other Services
• D. Construction

Q5. Which one of the following was the last full round of the National Sample Survey (NSS) on unincorporated non-agricultural enterprises, conducted immediately before the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) was launched as a regular annual exercise?

• A. NSS 68th Round (2011–12)
• B. NSS 70th Round (2013)
• C. NSS 73rd Round (2015–16)
• D. NSS 75th Round (2017–18)

Q6. With reference to the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) conducted by the National Sample Survey Office, consider the following entities: 1. A sole proprietorship engaged in manufacturing of garments 2. A partnership firm registered under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 3. A co-operative society engaged in retail trade and not registered under the Companies Act 4. An unregistered firm engaged in building construction work Which of the above is/are correctly identified as being within the coverage of ASUSE?

1. A sole proprietorship engaged in manufacturing of garments
2. A partnership firm registered under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008
3. A co-operative society engaged in retail trade and not registered under the Companies Act
4. An unregistered firm engaged in building construction work

• A. 1 and 3 only
• B. 2 and 4 only
• C. 1, 2 and 3
• D. 1, 3 and 4

Q7. Which one of the following is the primary unit of enquiry in the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE)?

• A. The enterprise, taken as a whole across all its locations
• B. The establishment, situated in a single location
• C. The household to which the proprietor belongs
• D. The local Gram Panchayat or urban ward in which the unit operates

Q8. With reference to the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2025 vis-à-vis ASUSE 2023-24, consider the following statements: 1. The share of female-owned proprietary establishments rose from 26.2 per cent to 27.0 per cent. 2. Among the three sectors, the Trade sector recorded the highest growth in the number of establishments over the previous round. 3. In ASUSE 2025, the Other Services sector accounted for the largest share of Gross Value Added (GVA) among the three sectors. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The share of female-owned proprietary establishments rose from 26.2 per cent to 27.0 per cent.
2. Among the three sectors, the Trade sector recorded the highest growth in the number of establishments over the previous round.
3. In ASUSE 2025, the Other Services sector accounted for the largest share of Gross Value Added (GVA) among the three sectors.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. The Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE), whose 2025 results pegged India's unincorporated non-agricultural base at 7.92 crore establishments, is conducted by which one of the following?

• A. Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
• B. National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
• C. Office of the Development Commissioner, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
• D. Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Q10. In the results of the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2025, which one of the following broad sectors recorded the highest year-on-year growth in Gross Value Added (GVA)?

• A. Manufacturing
• B. Trade
• C. Other Services
• D. Construction

Q11. The Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE), whose 2025 round estimated 7.92 crore non-agricultural establishments in India, is conducted by which one of the following organisations?

• A. Central Statistics Office (CSO), MoSPI
• B. National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), MoSPI
• C. Office of the Development Commissioner (MSME), Ministry of MSME
• D. National Statistical Commission (NSC)

Q12. According to the Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE) 2025, which one of the following broad sectors recorded the highest share of establishments using the internet for entrepreneurial purposes?

• A. Manufacturing
• B. Trade
• C. Other Services
• D. Construction