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Learn about the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), its full form, 1950 establishment, headquarters, and key functions. Discover how NSSO shaped India’s data-driven policies before merging with CSO to form the National Statistical Office (NSO) in 2019.
Ananya Gupta
June 23, 2025
National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) has long been one of India’s most prominent statistical organisations. Established in 1950, the NSSO was created to conduct large-scale surveys and collect comprehensive data on various socio-economic indicators. This statistical body was under the administrative control of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India, and played a central role in shaping data-driven public policy and national development plans.
The National Sample Survey Office was responsible for conducting nationwide sample surveys to gather important statistics on diverse socio-economic issues such as employment, education, health, agriculture, consumer expenditure, and industrial performance. These surveys provided a strong and credible data framework essential for formulating national and state-level policies.
Often referred to simply as NSSO, the organisation followed strict statistical methods and scientific sampling to ensure accuracy and reliability in its findings. The full form of NSSO is National Sample Survey Office.
| National Sample Survey Office Overview | |
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Form | National Sample Survey Office |
| Also Known As | NSSO |
| Full Form of NSSO | National Sample Survey Office |
| Established In | 1950 |
| Merged With | The Central Statistics Office (CSO) in 2019 formed the National Statistical Office (NSO) |
| Administrative Control | Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India |
| NSSO Headquarters | New Delhi (with divisional offices in Kolkata and Faridabad) |
| Main Functions |
|
| Key Surveys |
|
| Major Divisions |
|
| NSSO Journal | Sarvekshana – Bi-annual publication with survey results and analysis |
| Role Post-2019 | Functions merged into NSO; continues as part of the integrated national statistical system |
The NSSO full form is National Sample Survey Office. For those who wonder what is the full form of NSSO, it represents the official agency tasked with statistical data collection through scientific sampling methods.
NSSO was established in the year 1950 as a part of India’s efforts to create a strong and systematic approach to data collection that can inform development policies.
The NSSO headquarters were based in New Delhi, with some of its divisional offices operating from Kolkata and Faridabad. The NSSO operated through a decentralised structure consisting of several regional and sub-regional offices across the country to ensure comprehensive data coverage.
Source: mospi
The NSSO comprised four main divisions:
Understanding what are the functions of NSSO involves a detailed look at its role in the collection, processing, and dissemination of data:
The Regional Office at Port Blair, established in 1982, is a prime example of the decentralised NSSO operations. It conducts all major socio-economic surveys in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, covering topics such as:
In May 2019, the Government of India merged the National Sample Survey Office with the Central Statistics Office to form the National Statistical Office (NSO). This move aimed to:
However, the merger raised some concerns regarding the autonomy of the NSSO, as the NSO was placed directly under the Secretary of MoSPI, which some feared might affect the independence of data generation and reporting.
While this merger was intended to enhance statistical coordination, it also raised concerns regarding the autonomy and independence of survey-based data collection processes, which were traditionally ensured under the independent structure of the NSSO.
While the NSSO no longer exists as a standalone entity, its legacy continues within the NSO. The work initiated by NSSO still forms the foundation of several crucial statistical activities in India. Its data remains central to:
The National Sample Survey Office has been instrumental in creating a reliable, scientific, and comprehensive statistical system for India. From conducting nationwide socio-economic surveys to publishing in-depth analytical reports, the NSSO set a high standard in public data management. Although it was merged into the National Statistical Office in 2019, its contributions remain foundational to the way India understands and addresses its socio-economic challenges.
Understand what is National Sample Survey Office, its role in national planning, or nsso full form, the history and contributions of the NSSO offer valuable insights into how data drives governance and development in a democratic society.
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