Niti Aayog declines the report claiming unemployment to be high - says Report is still in progress

An article that was based on leaked data from the National Sample Survey Office had made headlines this morning on Thursday. NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar on Thursday said that this news story which claimed that the unemployment rate in India stood at a 45-year high during 2017-18, was "not verified".

The article had said that the unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in 2017-18, post demonetization, and was at its highest level since 1972-73. As per the sources, the government is reluctant in publishing the report as it might reveal the worst conditions prevailing currently regarding unemployment.T he last two non-government members of the National Statistical Commission (NSC) had resigned earlier this week, partly because of the government’s refusal to release the report.

Predicting that the report might be out in March, Kumar said that the world releases it as soon as it gets ready. He also said that "The data collection method is different now. We are using a computer-assisted personal interview in the new survey. It is not right to compare the NSSO report as final." Also, the NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant also said that the government is creating enough jobs for new entrants.

With a lot of controversy happening over the article claiming poor employment and the officials claiming it to be wrong, the truth will only be revealed post the actual report is published.