(wl-1685)-Identification of Sample Units - Serious Issues with PLFS 2023–24

The periodic labour force survey (PLFS) data for 2023-24 published very recently contains a serious problem in uniquely identified five-digit number representing first stage sample unit (FSU). The FSUs in the revisit data in HHRV.TXT file are overlapping across state regions: the same FSU appears in two or more different states. It creates a serious problem in identifying the ultimate sampling units, households. As FSU serial number is a part of the household identification number, sample households cannot be identified uniquely if FSU serial numbers are not unique. Over identification of the sampling units at the first stage creates the problem of mismatching of panel units in constructing household level panel in urban areas.