What is the significance of the Census?
The story so far: The Union Home Ministry has announced the next Census will be conducted in two phases and that the reference date for Census enumeration would be March 1, 2027.
What is the history of Census?
Census is the process of collecting, compiling and analysing the population of the country. Right from Kautilya's Arthashastra to the administrative report 'Ain-i-Akbari' during the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar, there have been references to population census.
A synchronous census is where population data is collected simultaneously across the country. This kind of census was started in 1881 during the British period with W. C. Plowden being the first Census Commissioner of India. The details were collected in census schedules till Independence. The questions in the schedule underwent changes with each census but broadly contained questions relating to age, sex, mother tongue, literacy status, religion, caste etc. The last census where caste was enumerated for Hindus was in 1931.
How is the Census conducted?
The Census is a Union list subject while The Census Act, 1948 is the key legislation governing the Census process. It authorises the Central government to undertake Census operations and appoint a Census Commissioner to supervise the entire exercise. The Centre also appoints Directors of Census Operations to supervise the Census within several States, while the State governments may appoint Census officers. The staff for conducting the Census is provided by the local authorities of a State, which predominantly consists of teachers.
Since 1971, Census operations have been carried out in two phases. The first phase is the 'house listing' phase that collects information on housing data. This usually spreads over a period of 5-6 months. In the last Census of 2011, the house listing schedule contained 35 questions that included details like type of house, main source of drinking water, type of latrine facility, availability of kitchen and fuel used for cooking, whether the house has a television/computer/telephone, type of vehicle available etc.
The second phase is the 'population enumeration' phase that is usually conducted during the month of February of the Census year as the usual reference date for population count is fixed as March 1 of the Census year. This captures individual details like name, sex, age, religion, whether belonging to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe (SC or ST), mother tongue, literacy status, educational qualification, occupation etc. These details are then compiled and provisional data from the Census is released. In 2011, this data was released by the end of March. The final report with a detailed analysis of the demographic, religious, linguistic profile etc. was released in April 2013.
What is the significance?
The decennial Census had happened from 1881 till 2011 without a break in India. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Census was postponed. While the exercise could have been conducted any time after 2022, it has been continuously postponed.
The present Census can be considered the most significant in Independent Indian history due to three reasons. First, the Central government has decided to enumerate the caste details of all Hindus. All Censuses after Independence have captured only SC and ST details. The decision follows wide spread demand from Opposition parties and civil society groups to include caste details in the Census. One of the reasons for the postponement of the Census to 2027 is to undertake the preparatory work for caste enumeration. Second, since this Census would be the first one after 2026, it can be used for the delimitation exercise of determining the revised number of seats in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
Third, this Census would also form the basis for reserving one-third of seats for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.
What should be the way forward?
The enumeration of caste details needs to be done in a systematic and flawless manner. This data will have to be used for decisions on affirmative action with respect to backward classes. Hence, adequate time for its preparatory work is necessary. However, genuine apprehensions of southern States, some of the smaller States of north India and the northeast States, about losing political significance if the proposed delimitation and consequent revision of number of seats in Lok Sabha is carried out on the basis of population as per the 2027 Census, must be heeded. Many of these States have demanded a freeze on Lok Sabha seats at the existing level. There has to be a wide-spread consensus among all the States on the formula for proportionate increase in Lok Sabha seats. Hence, this exercise of delimitation should not be rushed through before the 2029 general elections. The one-third reservation of seats for women should be implemented based on this Census from the 2029 elections.
Rangarajan. R is a former IAS officer and author of 'Courseware on Polity Simplified'. He currently trains at Officers IAS Academy. Views expressed are personal.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
14 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Pawar says India lacks strong ties with neighbours
Pune: Sharad Pawar, chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), on Tuesday expressed concern over what he termed as the Union government's failure to maintain constructive relations with neighbouring countries. Addressing party workers in Pune during the NCP (SP)'s 26th Foundation Day, Pawar said the current foreign policy has not fostered an environment for effective regional diplomacy. 'During Jawaharlal Nehru's leadership, India had cordial ties with its neighbours,' Pawar noted, contrasting it with what he called a sharp decline in relations with countries such as Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. 'The map of India tells a story — to the north are Pakistan and China, to the east is Bangladesh, and to the south, Sri Lanka. How many of these countries can we claim to have positive and consistent engagement with today?' he asked. Referring to the aftermath of a recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Pawar said his party had refrained from politicising the issue, instead choosing to stand behind the government on matters of national security. 'When civilians were killed in the Pahalgam incident, we did not criticise the Centre. We said we would support any firm response,' he said. Pawar said that India's diplomatic position, once respected in the neighbourhood, has weakened. He pointed out that while Bangladesh owes its creation to India's efforts, it now seems distant. 'Sri Lanka is increasingly leaning towards China, raising doubts about its strategic alignment with us,' he said. He concluded by saying that the current situation points to a failure of leadership in nurturing bilateral ties. 'India today cannot claim to have a meaningful dialogue with any of its immediate neighbours. This will come at a cost,' he warned. Pawar also emphasised that his party would not use these issues for political mileage but, along with the Congress and Left parties, would continue to work towards the country's overall progress. Supriya Sule, the party's working president, shared her experience from a recent delegation visit to Egypt, Qatar, Ethiopia, and South Africa. She said the leaders there spoke warmly of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Indira Gandhi. 'Even as they acknowledge Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the legacy of past Indian leaders remains strong in their memory,' Sule said.
New Indian Express
36 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Kerala govt restores Arabic teacher staff fixation norms in higher secondary schools
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has brought back the earlier criteria for staff fixation of Arabic teachers in higher secondary schools. In an order, the government clarified that a minimum of 10 students would suffice for the creation of a teaching post for Arabic. Earlier, when additional Plus-I batches were sanctioned during the 2014-16 period, the government had raised the minimum number of students required for creation of teaching posts in Arabic to 25 from 10. Teachers who had lost their posts took legal recourse against the government's decision and obtained a favourable verdict, leading to the recent reversion.
Mint
37 minutes ago
- Mint
EAM S Jaishankar: India hopeful of trade deal with US before July 9 tariff deadline
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government is 'hopeful' of reaching an agreement on a trade deal with the United States before the tariff suspension ends on 9 July. 'The threat of reciprocal tariffs was raised on April 2, but we had already begun bilateral negotiations for a trade agreement,' Jaishankar said in an interview with French daily Le Figaro. The Minister is on an official visit to Belgium and France until 14 June. 'Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi was hosted by (US President) Donald Trump in February, and they agreed to expand access to each other's markets. We are hopeful of reaching an agreement before the tariff suspension ends on July 9,' Jaishankar said, according to a report in The Indian Express. Jaishankar was responding to a question on Donald Trump administration's threat of a 26 per cent tariff, and the Indian government's relations with the Trump administration. On 2 April, the US announced 26 per cent reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods. However, the decision was paused for 90 days, ending on 9 July. In the interview, Jaishankar reiterated that for over a quarter-century, under five US Presidents, India's ties with the US have continuously strengthened. "Structural forces – economic, technological, educational, scientific, strategic, military – are driving this relationship,' he said. Jaishankar also spoke about the military action between India and Pakistan. He said the issue was actually about terrorism, not Pakistan. 'It has become an India-Pakistan issue because Pakistan harbours and supports terrorists. The conflict is between India and terrorism, not with a specific country,' the Minister said. As many as 26 people were killed and several others injured in the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on 22 April. Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on 7 May, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. In a separate interview during the tour, Jaishankar issued a stern warning against future terrorist provocations, reiterating that India will not hesitate to strike back against Pakistan regardless of location. Politico is an American political digital newspaper company. "And we don't care where they are. If they are deep in Pakistan, we will go deep into Pakistan," Jaishankar said in the interview with Politico during his official visit to Brussels, Belgium, for high-level trade talks with the European Union. We are hopeful of reaching an agreement before the tariff suspension ends on July 9. Jaishankar's remarks reflect the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's recent stance on cross-border terrorism. Jaishankar, who was in Brussels for high-level trade talks with the European Union, further asserted that Pakistan was training "thousands" of terrorists in the open and unleashing them on its southern neighbour.
