Year: 2026 | Month: June | Volume: 16 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 127-133
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260614
Updated and Comparative Analysis of Modified B.G. Prasad and Kuppuswamy Socio-economic Scales Using CPI-IW for 2026
Ravi Kumar1, Amrit Pundir2
1Statistician cum Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, 2MBBS Student,
1,2Shri Ram Murti Smarak institute of Medical Sciences College, Bareilly, India.
Corresponding Author: Amrit Pundir
ABSTRACT
Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) is a significant determinant of health/access to healthcare and disease distribution. Modified B.G. Prasad and Modified Kuppuswamy scales are commonly used for socioeconomic classification. Due to inflation, their income criteria require periodic revision to maintain accuracy. Therefore, this study aims to calculate the updated income limits for the Modified B.G. Prasad and Modified Kuppuswamy scales for January 2026.
Methods: This methodological study was performed using CPI-IW January 2026 data obtained from the Labour Bureau, Government of India. The CPI-IW base year was 2016 (index = 100), and the value for January 2026 was 148.6. A correction factor (1.486) was calculated and applied to the income limits of the Modified B.G. Prasad (2016) and the income component of the Modified Kuppuswamy scale to derive updated income thresholds for January 2026.
Results: Updated Modified B.G. Prasad scale for January 2026 showed revised per capita monthly income limits as follows (Class I ≥ ₹8,916; Class II ₹4,458–₹8,915; Class III ₹2,674–₹4,457; Class IV ₹1,337–₹2,673; Class V ≤ ₹1,336). Income categories of the Modified Kuppuswamy scale were updated, with the highest income category revised to ≥ ₹62,391 per month with education/occupation components of the Kuppuswamy scale remained unchanged.
Conclusion: The updated Modified B.G. Prasad and Modified Kuppuswamy scales for January 2026 provide revised income thresholds based on January 2026 CPI-IW values. This update helps health professionals accurately assess socioeconomic status in epidemiological studies/health planning.
Key words: Socioeconomic status; B.G. Prasad scale; Kuppuswamy scale; Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers; Socioeconomic classification; India