This study is composed of conceptual and methodological observations on a number of Indian rural energy surveys.The occasion arose when IDRC asked me to survey the then available Indian rural energy surveys in 1982.Th material covered was narrow even then,for only a minority of the surveys were found to throw light on important questions;now it is dated as well.But after surveying a good ideal more of research in my present job as the coordinatinator of the IRDC/UNU sponsored Energy Research Group,I am confirmed both in the conclusions  I formed three years ago and their relevance  to the studies that are still being done. 

This study is composed of conceptual and methodological observations on a number of Indian rural energy surveys.The occasion arose when IDRC asked me to survey the then available Indian rural energy surveys in 1982.Th material covered was narrow even then,for only a minority of the surveys were found to throw light on important questions;now it is dated as well.But after surveying a good ideal more of research in my present job as the coordinatinator of the IRDC/UNU sponsored Energy Research Group,I am confirmed both in the conclusions  I formed three years ago and their relevance  to the studies that are still being done.