As highlighted in Chapter 2 , over its 75 years, the NSS has generated a wealth of information on a wide range of subjects. The NSS data have been used extensively for official purposes as well as by planners and policymakers, researchers and various other academics. The NSS is undoubtedly a goldmine of information on various socio-economic characteristics relating to the households/persons residing in India as well as the establishments operating from within the country and how these characteristics have changed over time. As a way forward, it will be a welcome step if based on the experiences gathered through different surveys of the NSS as well as other considerations including the global survey practices, attention is paid to address certain critical areas for further strengthening the database of the NSS.