NSO Report: Time use in India - 2019

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

Dated the 7 Asvina, 1942 Saka

29th September, 2020

PRESS NOTE

NSS REPORT: TIME USE IN INDIA- 2019

(JANUARY – DECEMBER 2019)

A. Introduction

Time Use Survey (TUS) provides a framework for measuring time dispositions by the population on different activities. It is an important source of information about the activities that are performed by the population and the time duration for which such activities are performed. One distinguishing feature of Time Use Survey from other household surveys is that it can capture time disposition on different aspects of human activities, be it paid, unpaid or other activities with such details which is not possible in other surveys.

The primary objective of Time Use Survey (TUS) is to measure participation of men and women in paid and unpaid activities. TUS is an important source of information on the time spent in unpaid caregiving activities, volunteer work, unpaid domestic service producing activities of the household members. It also provides information on time spent on learning, socializing, leisure activities, self-care activities, etc., by the household members.

National Statistical Office (NSO) conducted the first Time Use Survey in India during January – December 2019. The survey measures the participation rate and time spent on paid activities, care activities, unpaid activities, etc.

B. Features of the Survey

1. Coverage : This survey covered 1,38,799 households (rural: 82,897 and urban: 55,902). Information on time use was collected from each member of age 6 years and above of the selected households. This survey enumerated 4,47,250 persons of age 6 years and above (rural: 2,73,195 and urban:1,74,055).

2. Data collection : In this survey data on time use was collected through personal interview method. Information on time use was collected covering a period of 24 hours starting from 4:00 A.M. on the day before the date of interview to 4:00 A.M. on the day of interview

3. Presentation of the estimates : The results have been presented here considering all the activities in the time slots instead of considering only the major activity. However the Report on Time Use in India-2019 also contains estimates considering only the major activities in the time slots. The results are presented for persons of age 6 years and above. The key indicators of time use survey are calculated as follows:

• Participation ratein a day in any activity is calculated as the percentage of persons performing that activity during the day.

• Average time spent in a day per participant for any activity is calculated by considering those who participated in the activity. Estimates of average time in a day in different activities derived by considering only the participants in the activities are referred to as average time spent in a day per participant.

• Average time spent in a day per person for any activity is calculated by considering all the persons irrespective of whether they participated in the activity or not. By this approach, distribution of total time of 1440 minutes of a day per person in different activities is derived.

4. The key findings of the survey are given in the statements annexed while the report and the unit level data both are accessible at https://mospi.gov.in.