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The Reserve Bank of India has launched the 74th round of its Order Books, Inventories and Capacity Utilisation Survey (OBICUS) of the manufacturing sector. The survey serves as an essential mechanism for gathering micro-level operational data directly from domestic manufacturing businesses
The central bank announced that the survey corresponds to the reference period from April to June 2026, marking the first quarter of the financial year 2026-27. The Reserve Bank of India noted that it "has been conducting the Order Books, Inventories and Capacity Utilisation Survey (OBICUS) of the manufacturing sector on a quarterly basis since 2008." . In its official release, the central bank detailed the extensive scope of the data collection process. The RBI stated that "the information collected in the survey includes quantitative data on new orders received during the reference quarter, backlog of orders at the beginning of the quarter, pending orders at the end of the quarter." The survey also aims to capture a comprehensive picture of the inventory levels across various stages of production. According to the RBI, the collection includes "total inventories with a breakup between finished goods FG), work-in-progress (WiP) and raw material (RM) inventories at the end of the quarter." Beyond orders and stock levels, the central bank evaluates output metrics relative to potential capacity. The Central bank stated that the survey measures "item-wise production in terms of quantity and value during the quarter vis-a-vis the installed capacity from the targeted group." It added that the data incorporates "the reasons for changes in production / installed capacity during the quarter." This specific metric allows the central bank to understand operational shifts and challenges faced by manufacturing units. The central bank explained that "the level of capacity utilisation (CU) is estimated from these responses." The resulting indicators provide crucial insights into the broader macroeconomic environment, and "the survey provides valuable input for monetary policy formulation." Regarding participation, the Reserve Bank of India indicated that selected manufacturing companies will be approached directly by the Bank to submit their responses. However, the survey is not restricted only to these pre-selected entities, as other manufacturing companies may also participate in the survey. Firms interested in participating can do so by downloading the survey questionnaire from the Reserve Bank's official website. The central bank outlined the submission process for the participating entities. It stated that "the duly authenticated filled-in survey schedule may be e-mailed as per contact details provided in the survey schedule." (ANI)
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