Nandlal Mishra

Getting the count of births and deaths right is essential for accurately estimating population growth in India, and crucial for planning. Yet the datasets on which these estimates rest are imperfect. We analyse the possible sources of errors, and suggest which datasets are best to use, and when.

India's Periodic Labour Force Survey is a vital source of employment data, and drives research and policy. We track changes in its methodology and their implications, key uses of the dataset, and important debates around its methodology and findings.

Capturing the true situation of manufacturing employment in India is a vital part of understanding its economy. We examine the implications of using different data sources to track manufacturing.

Global growth standards used to define the levels of child stunting in India have been contentious. While a substantial body of research shows that the standards are not inaccurate, more context-specific growth references could also be useful.

Accurate estimations of demographic trends are vital for planning. India has both a direct and an indirect system to count births and deaths. How did they develop, what works and doesn't, and how can they be improved?

The 2022-23 and 2023-24 rounds of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey appeared to show large, unexplained deviations on several important indicators. Our research identifies the error that drove those swings.

How the NFHS has evolved over time, how it collects its data, and key discussions and debates around it.

The National Family Health Survey consistently underestimates the proportion of young males and elderly females in India's population. Estimates of the sex ratio from the NFHS need to be used with caution.

Between censuses, and to plan for the future, countries rely on population projections. Understanding how these projections are made, as well as their past successes and failures, is vital.