Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Tuesday that the Indian government will “very soon” reveal plans to conduct the long-awaited national census. This statement comes in response to inquiries regarding the decadal census, which has faced delays primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During a press conference celebrating 100 days of the NDA government’s third term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah addressed questions about the census, assuring that all details, including discussions on a caste census, would be disclosed at the time of the announcement.
Since 1881, India has conducted its census every ten years. The first phase of the current census was initially slated to commence on April 1, 2020, but was postponed due to the pandemic. Political parties have been vocally advocating for a caste census, emphasizing the need for updated demographic data, as existing government policies and subsidy allocations still rely on data from the 2011 census.
The house listing phase of the census, along with the update to the National Population Register (NPR), was scheduled for April 1 to September 30, 2020, but has also faced delays. Officials estimate that the entire census and NPR exercise will exceed Rs 12,000 crore.
This upcoming census will be significant as it will be the first digital census, allowing citizens to self-enumerate. The census authority is preparing a self-enumeration portal, which is yet to be launched, requiring citizens to provide an Aadhaar number or mobile number to complete their forms independently.
The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner has devised a set of 31 questions for the census, focusing on various aspects of daily life, including household ownership of phones, internet access, types of transportation, and living conditions. Additional questions will cover the materials used in the household structure, the number of residents, and whether the head of the household belongs to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.
As the announcement date approaches, the census promises to provide valuable insights and data that will influence policy-making in India for years to come.
