Annual Survey of Industries

The Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) is the principal annual survey of India's registered factory sector, conducted by the National Statistical Office. It covers establishments included in the statutory factory frame, rather than the entire universe of manufacturing enterprises.

Core factory coverage

The main coverage consists of factories registered under the Factories Act, 1948 and engaged in a manufacturing process as defined by that Act.

• Under Section 2(m)(i), a premises is ordinarily a factory when 10 or more workers are employed and manufacturing is carried on with the aid of power.
• Under Section 2(m)(ii), the corresponding threshold is 20 or more workers when manufacturing is carried on without the aid of power.
• The worker threshold applies where the required number worked on any day during the preceding twelve months.

Special coverage and limits

The ASI also covers bidi and cigar manufacturing establishments registered under the Bidi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966.

• Small, unregistered and household manufacturing enterprises outside the statutory factory frame are not covered by the ASI; they are measured through other surveys.
• Coverage means inclusion in the ASI frame. Depending on the survey design, eligible units may be surveyed on either a census basis or a sample basis.