Key Indicators of Social Consumption in India on Education Show Continued Gender Gap and Rural Urban Differences. In rural areas, literacy rate was seen as 71% compared to 86% in urban areas. Also among persons of age 7 years and above male literacy rate being substantially higher (83%) than female literacy rate (67%).

The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the key indicators of Social Consumption in India: Health, generated from the data collected during the period January to June 2014 in its 71st round survey.

New official data show that the proportion of Indian households using the Public Distribution System has nearly doubled over seven years. These households are relying more on the PDS and less on open market sources than before.

The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) conducts nationwide socio-economic surveys as part of its “rounds”, each round normally of a year’s duration.

The surveys on Land & Livestock Holdings of the National Sample Survey(NSS) are the primary source of data on various types of land, classified by kind and duration of possession by the households, pattem of land use in terms of cropping or iivestock farming etc.