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

Q1. In the PLFS Monthly Bulletin for June 2026 (persons aged 15 years and above, all-India), which one of the following headline labour-market rates carried the numerically largest value?

  • A. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR)
  • B. Worker Population Ratio (WPR)
  • C. Unemployment Rate (UR)
  • D. Female Labour Force Participation Rate

Q2. The all-India PLFS Monthly Bulletin reports how many distinct headline labour-force rates (as defined by NSO) for each disaggregation?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q3. On its launch in 2017, the Periodic Labour Force Survey became the principal official source of labour-force data by replacing which one of the following?

  • A. The quinquennial Employment-Unemployment Surveys of the NSSO
  • B. The Annual Survey of Industries (ASI)
  • C. The Economic Census
  • D. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS)

Q4. The Employment-Unemployment Surveys that PLFS replaced were described as 'quinquennial' — meaning they were conducted once every how many years?

  • A. Three years
  • B. Five years
  • C. Seven years
  • D. Ten years

Q5. Under the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach used in the PLFS Monthly Bulletins, a person's activity status is determined with reference to a period of how many days preceding the date of survey?

  • A. 7 days
  • B. 14 days
  • C. 30 days
  • D. 365 days

Q6. Consider the following pairings relating to PLFS activity-status concepts: 1. Current Weekly Status — a reference period of the last 7 days. 2. Usual Principal Status — a reference period of the last 365 days. 3. PLFS Monthly Bulletins — estimates presented in the Usual Status (ps+ss) approach. 4. Subsidiary economic activity status — economic activity for 30 days or more during the 365-day reference period. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Current Weekly Status — a reference period of the last 7 days.
  2. Usual Principal Status — a reference period of the last 365 days.
  3. PLFS Monthly Bulletins — estimates presented in the Usual Status (ps+ss) approach.
  4. Subsidiary economic activity status — economic activity for 30 days or more during the 365-day reference period.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q7. The revamped PLFS sample design based on a rotational panel scheme (with monthly and quarterly all-India estimates) was introduced with effect from which point in time?

  • A. January 2025
  • B. April 2017
  • C. April 2025
  • D. January 2024

Q8. With respect to the PLFS sample design revamp effective January 2025, consider the following statements: 1. Each selected household is visited four times over four consecutive months. 2. The scheme ensures 75% matching of the samples between two consecutive months. 3. The number of households surveyed within a selected First Stage Unit (FSU) was increased from 8 to 12. 4. The Monthly Bulletins present their estimates using the Usual Status (ps+ss) approach. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Each selected household is visited four times over four consecutive months.
  2. The scheme ensures 75% matching of the samples between two consecutive months.
  3. The number of households surveyed within a selected First Stage Unit (FSU) was increased from 8 to 12.
  4. The Monthly Bulletins present their estimates using the Usual Status (ps+ss) approach.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 4

Q9. With reference to the PLFS Monthly Bulletin for June 2026 (persons aged 15 years and above), consider the following statements: 1. The overall LFPR was unchanged from May 2026 but higher than in June 2025. 2. The urban Unemployment Rate was lower than it had been in June 2025. 3. The female LFPR was lower than it had been in June 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The overall LFPR was unchanged from May 2026 but higher than in June 2025.
  2. The urban Unemployment Rate was lower than it had been in June 2025.
  3. The female LFPR was lower than it had been in June 2025.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. The all-India monthly urban and rural LFPR, WPR and Unemployment Rate figures reported in the June 2026 PLFS bulletin are estimated following which activity-status approach?

  • A. Current Weekly Status (CWS)
  • B. Usual Principal Status only
  • C. Usual Status (Principal + Subsidiary)
  • D. Usual Principal and Subsidiary Status combined over 365 days

Q11. EPFO net-payroll (subscriber) data, frequently compared with PLFS as a labour-market indicator, is compiled under the administrative control of which of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Labour & Employment
  • B. Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
  • C. Ministry of Finance
  • D. Ministry of Corporate Affairs

Q12. The Periodic Labour Force Survey is conducted by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. National Statistical Office (NSO) under MoSPI
  • B. National Statistical Commission
  • C. Labour Bureau under the Ministry of Labour & Employment
  • D. NITI Aayog