Time Use Survey

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Time Use Survey (TUS) provides a framework for measuring time dispositions by the population on different activities. It is an important source of information about the activities that are performed by the population and the time duration for which such activities are performed. One distinguishing feature of Time Use Survey from other household surveys is that it can capture time disposition on different aspects of human activities, be it paid, unpaid or other activities with such details which is not possible in other surveys.

More About Time Use Survey

TUS is an important source of information on the time spent in unpaid caregiving activities, volunteer work, unpaid domestic service producing activities of the household members.
It also provides information on time spent on learning, socializing, leisure activities, self-care activities, etc., by the household members.
National Statistical Office (NSO) conducted the first Time Use Survey in India during January – December 2019. The survey measures the participation rate and time spent on paid activities, care activities, unpaid activities, etc.

Key Findings

Only 38.2% of the population participates in “employment and other related activities”, spending 429 minutes (7 hours and 9 minutes) on an average each day.
There is, however, a wide gender disparity, with only 18.4% women participating in employment activities compared with 57.3% men; also, while men spend on an average 459 minutes (7 hours and 39 minutes), women spend only 333 minutes (5 hours and 33 minutes).
It shows women participation in unpaid domestic services for household members is as high as 81.2% each day compared with 26.1% for men. Women spend 299 minutes (almost 5 hours), thrice as much as men (97 minutes or 1 hour 37 minutes).
There is also a stark difference in the time spent by men and women in care-giving activities to a dependent child or an adult. While only 14% of men participate in unpaid care giving services for household members spending on average 76 minutes a day (1 hour and 16 minutes), the share of women is double at 27.6%. Women also spend more than two hours (2 hours 14 minutes) in such care-giving.
The survey also shows that Indians do not like to be unpaid volunteers or to take part in community or organisation-based unpaid volunteering. Only 2.4% of the respondents said they volunteer for such work. The time spent on volunteering is around 101 minutes a day.
However, participation in socialising and communication through chatting, conversing, community participation by taking part in gatherings and religious participation, is very high with almost 91.3% of the respondents taking part in these activities each day, spending on an average around 143 minutes each day.
Participation in culture, leisure, mass-media and sports practices through reading, watching television is also high with 86.9% of the participants spending an average 165 minutes every day.