On the Reliability of NSS Data

M H Suryanarayana N S Iyengar This paper is addressed to two specific questions: How far are comparisons between the NSS and CSO estimates valid? Does there exist any other basis for the doubts generally expressed about the reliability of NSS estimates? The nature of differences observed between NSS and CSO estimates of certain items of consumption is briefly discussed in Section II In Section III the authors examine the conceptual and methodological differences underlying these estimates and their comparability. Section IV is devoted to a discussion of the possible sources of bias in NSS estimates. The final section summarises the main conclusions.