Latest news with #Census2021
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Business Standard
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Population census at last: Several pending issues need fresh attention
There was a polarisation of views on getting the caste data included in the Census, with the government taking a negative posture while the Opposition was united in demanding it Amitabh Kundu P C Mohanan Listen to This Article The government has announced that the next population census along with caste counting will be done in 2027. The census was due in 2021 but was postponed due to the Covid pandemic. The preparations for the first phase of the Census 2021 were complete, and house listing work was scheduled during April-September 2020 and population count in February 2021. The passage of almost six years would mean that basic exercises would have to begin afresh. There was a polarisation of views on getting the caste data included in the Census, with the government taking a negative posture while the Opposition
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Census is welcome – it has to be about more than stats
In the recent past, the Centre has taken several steps to fill the gaps in data availability in the country. For instance, it has conducted two rounds of household consumption expenditure surveys for 2022-23 and 2023-24 which provide granular data on household spending patterns, and also allow for the estimation of poverty and inequality in the country. The government has also announced that the revamped sample design of the labour force surveys will allow for the generation of monthly estimates of key labour market indicators, which will aid policymaking. On Wednesday, it took another step, announcing the dates for the much delayed Census. This is a welcome development. The Census 2021 had been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and has not been conducted since. This had meant that the last Census conducted provided estimates of India's population as of March 2011. Considering that timely and accurate data forms the basis of policy making, the continuing absence of the Census data has only hindered policymaking in the country. The Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases. As per a report in this paper, the household listing phase is likely to begin by March-April 2026, while the enumeration exercise will take place over 21 days in February 2027. As per the Ministry of Home Affairs, 'the reference date for population Census-2027 will be 00:00 hours of the first day of March, 2027'. For the UT of Ladakh and the non-synchronous snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be 00.00 hours of the first day of October, 2026. Alongside, the exercise will also involve the enumeration of castes. This will be the first time since 1931 that the Census will gather detailed data on caste beyond Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. But, the announcement of the Census has also raised questions on the possibility of delimitation — the process of reconfiguring the Lok Sabha and state assembly seats — and the implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament. In addition to providing population estimates, the Census also collects data on several household socio-economic indicators. This provides vital information on the changes in the country over the decades. Alongside, the Census data is also used in various surveys, and by both government agencies and private entities in the formulation of policies and strategies. It thus serves an invaluable purpose, aiding policy making in India.
United News of India
a day ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Covid-19 delayed Census 2021; southern states' concerns will be take care of: MHA
New Delhi, June 5 (UNI) Attributing the delay in conducting Census 2021 to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday said the concerns of the southern states regarding the delimitation process will be taken care of with all concerned at an appropriate time. The Ministry said on X that Home Minister Amit Shah had repeatedly clarified that concerns of southern states regarding the delimitation exercise will be taken care of and discussed with all concerned at an appropriate time. "Census 2021 was to be conducted and all preparations for the Census were completed. However, due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic across the country, the Census work was postponed. The aftershock of Covid-19 continued for quite some time," the MHA said. The Ministry said that a key challenge was the involvement of approximately 30 lakh enumerators, most of whom are primary school teachers. Conducting the Census immediately after Covid could have severely disrupted primary education. "COVID disrupted all sectors, including education. Around 30 lakh enumerators are needed for the Census. Enumerators, who are primary school teachers, are key persons for conducting Census. Conducting the Census after Covid could have disrupted primary education immensely," the MHA post said. "Countries which conducted Census immediately after COVID-19 faced issues with the quality and coverage of Census data. The Government has decided to commence the process of census forthwith, which will be completed on March 1, 2027, the reference date for Census," it said. The Ministry reiterated that budgetary constraints have never been a hurdle for conducting the Census, as adequate funding is consistently ensured by the government. The MHA said, "Budget has never been a constraint for Census as fund is always ensured by the Govt. Home Minister Amit Shah has clarified on many occasions that in the delimitation exercise, concerns of southern states will be taken care of and discussed with all concerned at an appropriate time". Notably, the government on Wednesday announced that Population Census-2027 will be conducted in two phases along with enumeration of castes and the reference date will be March 1, 2027. UNI RBE SSP
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Delimitation concerns will be discussed at an appropriate time: MHA
A day after it announced the schedule for conducting Census-2027, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday said the concerns of southern states about the delimitation exercise, which will take place on the basis of the census data, will be taken care of and discussed with all concerned at an appropriate time. In a series of posts on 'X', the MHA said budget allocation has never been a constraint for conducting the census, as funds are always ensured by the government. The entire 2021 Census exercise was estimated to cost the government over ₹13,000 crore. The Budget for 2025–26 allocated ₹574.80 crore for census surveys and statistics / the Registrar General of India (RGI). The MHA did not explicitly state whether the census data could be available in time for a delimitation commission to decide on the number of seats in the Lok Sabha before the 2029 polls. However, the ministry alluded to Home Minister Amit Shah's earlier statements on the delimitation exercise. It stated that Shah has 'clarified on many occasions that in the delimitation exercise the concerns of southern states will be taken care of and discussed with all concerned at an appropriate time'. The delimitation of constituencies for the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies is to be carried out on the basis of the first Census after 2026. It will also be the basis for reserving a third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. Tamil Nadu, and other southern states such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Telangana, fear that the delimitation exercise, if conducted solely on the basis of population, would diminish their political representation in Parliament. Some of the southern states have demanded a freeze on the number of Lok Sabha seats, based on the 1971 Census, for another 25 years. The provisional data for the 2011 Census was released on 31 March 2011, 25 days after its population enumeration phase ended, while the final data was released two years later on 30 April 2013. The MHA also defended the delay in holding the Census exercise. It said Census 2021 was to be conducted and all preparations were completed. However, due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic across the country, the Census work was postponed. The aftershock of Covid-19 continued for quite some time, it said. The ministry said Covid-19 disrupted all sectors including education. It said around 3 million enumerators are needed for the Census. Enumerators, who are primary school teachers, are key persons for conducting the Census. Conducting the Census after Covid could have disrupted primary education immensely, the MHA said. The MHA also pointed out that countries which conducted the Census immediately after Covid-19 faced issues regarding the quality and coverage of Census data. It said the government has decided to commence the process of Census forthwith, which will complete on 1 March 2027 — the reference date for the Census. The Centre on Wednesday said Census-2027, with caste enumeration, will be undertaken in two phases across the country. It will be completed by 1 October 2026 in snow-bound and hilly areas like Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and by 1 March 2027 in the rest of the country. The reference date for the headcount will be 12 am on 1 March 2027 for the rest of the country.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
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.
