The decennial Census, initially scheduled to commence in 2020, has faced multiple delays, with no fixed date for the start of fieldwork. This delay impacts the timely collection of demographic data crucial for policy-making and planning. The Budget for 2024-25 allocated ₹1,309.46 crore for Census operations, a substantial decrease from the ₹3,768 crore allocated in the 2021-22 budget. This reduction raises concerns about the feasibility of conducting the Census even after the delays.

Impact of the Delay

• The lack of a recent Census since 2011 means that a significant portion of the population is excluded from accessing various government schemes, benefits, and services.
• The implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act, which mandates 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures, is contingent upon accurate and updated Census data. The delay hampers progress in achieving gender representation goals.

Preparatory Work and Next Steps

• Preliminary activities for the Census involve preparing updated administrative maps, finalizing draft questionnaires, and training core and field staff. These preparations are crucial for ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of data collection.
• Census Directorates across States and Union Territories have been working on these preparations for years, anticipating the Census. This includes refining enumeration areas, pre-testing questionnaires, and planning logistics.

Anticipated Timeline

• The Census is now expected to be conducted in 2026, following the first phase of operations in 2025, which includes house listing and updating the National Population Register (NPR). This timeline provides a framework for the necessary preparatory activities and ensures that the Census is conducted efficiently once a date is finalized.

Delimitation of Constituencies

• The Constitution (Eighty-Fourth Amendment) Act of 2001 stipulates that delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies should not occur until the first Census conducted after 2026. This provision aims to provide stability in electoral boundaries based on consistent demographic data.
• If the Census is further delayed until 2027, there will need to be new deadlines set for freezing administrative boundaries to comply with constitutional requirements.

National Population Register (NPR)

• The NPR was initially prepared during the House listing and Housing Census phase of Census 2011 and updated in 2015. It records details of usual residents in villages, towns, and other areas.
• The forthcoming Census will include updating the NPR once again, incorporating changes such as births, deaths, and migration. The draft NPR form for the next Census includes new questions about mother tongue, and the place of birth of parents—questions not present in the 2011 NPR. This has raised concerns among some States and citizen groups, who fear that these questions could be used for the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
• The inclusion of new questions in the NPR draft has been contested, with some fearing it might be a precursor to the NRC. However, the Centre has clarified that NPR data will not be used for NRC preparation. The government needs to make a definitive decision on retaining or modifying these questions to address concerns and ensure transparency.

Caste Information in the Census

• There is growing demand from various quarters for a caste-based census to accurately assess the socio-economic conditions of marginalized communities. This would provide valuable data for targeted policy interventions and resource allocation.
• In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court of India on September 23, 2021, the Union Government stated that conducting a caste census (beyond the traditional counts for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) is administratively challenging and cumbersome.
• The government must decide whether to include caste information in the upcoming Census. This decision will significantly impact the understanding of social and economic disparities and guide future policies aimed at addressing inequality.

Conclusion

The Census is a critical exercise for understanding demographic trends and guiding policy-making. The ongoing delays, budgetary constraints, and administrative challenges underscore the need for prompt action and clear communication from the government to ensure that the Census is conducted efficiently and effectively. The decisions made regarding the Census, NPR, and caste information will have long-term implications for governance and social equity.