Census pushed to 2027 to avoid disruption in school education post-Covid19 pandemic: Home Ministry
Express News Service
(Hidden byline: Mahender Singh Manral)
New Delhi | June 5
A day after announcing that the Population Census will be conducted in 2027 along with a nationwide caste enumeration, the Union Home Ministry on Thursday said the exercise was postponed after the Covid-19 pandemic because conducting it earlier could have 'immensely disrupted primary education'.
On Wednesday, the government had said that data collection for the Census and caste enumeration would begin early next year, and would offer a snapshot of the country's population as of March 1, 2027. The last Census, held in 2011, had March 1 that year as the reference date. The next decadal headcount was due in 2021 but was deferred due to the pandemic.
'All preparations for Census 2021 were complete. However, due to the Covid outbreak across the country, the Census work was postponed,' the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) spokesperson posted on X. 'Covid disrupted all sectors, including education. Around 30 lakh enumerators are needed for the Census and most of them are primary school teachers. Conducting the Census post-Covid could have disrupted primary education immensely.'
The spokesperson said countries that conducted their censuses soon after the pandemic faced 'issues on quality and coverage of Census data'.
The delay in the Census has triggered political reactions. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday accused the Centre of deferring the exercise to reduce the state's parliamentary representation. In a post on X, he said: 'The Indian Constitution mandates that delimitation must follow the first Census after 2026. The BJP has now delayed the Census to 2027, making their plan clear to reduce Tamil Nadu's Parliamentary representation. I had warned about this. It is now unfolding… We need clear answers from the Union Government.'
Responding to this, the MHA spokesperson said: 'The Honourable Home Minister has made it clear on several occasions that in the delimitation exercise, concerns of southern states will be taken care of and discussed with all concerned at the appropriate time.'
Reiterating the Centre's commitment, the spokesperson said the Census process would now 'commence forthwith' and conclude with March 1, 2027, as the reference date. 'Budget has never been a constraint for conducting the Census, as allocation of funds is always ensured by the government,' the post added.
This is a developing story. Please refresh periodically for more updates.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
29 minutes ago
- The Hindu
India, U.S. trade talks extended as deadline looms for interim deal, sources say
Trade talks between Indian and U.S. officials have been extended into next week as both sides seek consensus on tariff cuts in the farming and auto sectors, aiming to finalise an interim deal before a July 9 deadline, government sources said. A U.S. delegation led by senior officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) held two days of discussions in the national capital with trade officials headed by chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal, the sources said. Also Read | India-U.S. trade deal in 'not too distant future': U.S. Commerce Secretary Lutnick "The two countries are actively engaged in focused discussions to facilitate greater market access, reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers, enhance supply chain resilience and integration," one Indian government official with direct knowledge of the talks, said. Negotiators, who had initially aimed to wrap up talks by Friday, will now continue discussions on Monday and Tuesday to resolve outstanding differences, a second official said. U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed in February to conclude a bilateral trade pact by fall 2025 and more than double trade to $500 billion by 2030. The current talks are part of efforts to hammer out a limited trade agreement that could lead the Trump administration to revoke 26% reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods - tariffs that have been paused along with those on several other U.S. trading partners for 90 days, the second official said. "Many Indian exporters have held back shipments to the U.S. in the last two weeks, fearing cargos may not reach before the July 9 deadline,' the official added. India's exports to the U.S. jumped nearly 28% year-on-year to $37.7 billion in the January–April period, driven by front-loading of shipments ahead of tariff hikes in April, while imports rose to $14.4 billion, widening the trade surplus in India's favour, according to US government data. Centre approved a licence for Elon Musk's Starlink to launch commercial operations, ignoring his public spat with Mr. Trump, Reuters reported on Friday. India is opposing U.S. demands to open up its agricultural and dairy markets, another Indian official said, citing the impact on millions of poor farmers who cannot compete with heavily subsidised American products. Indian officials have also made it clear New Delhi could pursue its complaint at the World Trade Organisation against the U.S. tariff hikes on steel and aluminium, while aiming to work out a bilateral agreement, the source added.
New Indian Express
35 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
PMK president Anbumani urges Stalin to order probe into ‘wage scam' in drainage board
TIRUNELVELI: PMK president Dr Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday urged CM MK Stalin to order an inquiry into the allegation of Rs 90 cr loot committed every year by officials and contractors of Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD ) Board who pay only 40% to 50% wages to workers. The TNIE carried a detailed report about the issue on Friday. In a post on his 'X' handle, Anbumani said it was condemnable that no action has been taken against those responsible for the scam, which has been going on for over 20 years. 'There is no greater crime or sin in the world than embezzling wages meant for contract workers. The Tamil Nadu government must order a fair inquiry into this scam. Those behind it must be identified,' he demanded. The PMK leader said, 'A total of 11,597 workers, including electricians, pumping operators, and maintenance assistants, are employed on a contract basis in the TWAD Board. Their wages are paid to the contractors, who then disburse it to the workers. The accusation is that contractors, who receive a minimum wage of Rs 15,401 or more per worker, pay only Rs 7,500 to Rs 9,800 and embezzle the remaining amount.'
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
DMK doubts EPS delimitation claim, says he's acting as BJP mouthpiece
This came as a response to EPS's remarks on X earlier in the day, where he said Chief Minister MK Stalin was speaking of 'fair delimitation' while 'presiding over the most unfair, corrupt, and dynastic regime Tamil Nadu has ever seen'. Palaniswami said the AIADMK would neither allow Tamil Nadu's representation in Parliament to be reduced nor its (state) voice to be silenced. 'In 2027, or whenever delimitation may come, the AIADMK will fiercely defend Tamil Nadu's rightful voice and future,' Palaniswami reiterated in his post on X. On June 2, the CM charged that by delaying the Census to 2027, the BJP-led union government's plans to reduce Tamil Nadu's parliamentary representation have become clear. 'The people of Tamil Nadu are tired of your drama and crocodile tears,' Palaniswami said on X. Regupathy, in his response, stated it was the CM who first exposed 'the BJP's plot' to reduce the number of MP seats of Tamil Nadu. 'After the CM exposed the BJP's plans, EPS has now come to its rescue. It is a blatant lie to claim that he is opposing Hindi imposition and delimitation while aligning with the very party that pushes for them in Tamil Nadu,' the minister charged.
