I have tried to merge IHDS 2005 and IHDS 2012 household data sets by applying IHDS linking file given by IHDS. I have followed all the instruction given by IHDS merging file. However, out of 83000 observations only 700 observations are matching. In the mean time, I found that IHDS authority has published merging file of above said data but many important variables like caste are masked by them. Hence, I could not find the detailed of the masked variable. In the one hand I could not merge and on the other hand I could not use the merge file.

Please, anyone help me in this regard, especially merging IHDS household data sets.

Thank You In Advance.

Regards

Dinamani