The statistics ministry has confirmed that the country's unemployment rate rose to 6.1 per cent in 2017-18 fiscal year, highest since 1972-73, figures earlier leaked by a national newspaper.

The ministry released the data, a day after Prime Minister took oath as the country's premier for the second consecutive term along with Cabinet ministers.

In a story on January 31, media reported that India's unemployment rate hit a 45-year-high of 6.1 per cent in 2017-18, as per the National Sample Survey Office.