India launches massive nationwide population census initiative

India Begins Year-Long Census Effort

More than three million Indian officials have started a year-long process of counting the country’s population. The census, which was initially delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, began on Wednesday and is expected to conclude by March 31 next year.

The first phase of the census will involve collecting information from homes over a period of about a month. Census workers will conduct in-person surveys and also use an online application for residents to report their data through their smartphones. A second phase of the counting will take place from September, during which more detailed information such as people’s social and economic characteristics will be surveyed.

The census is expected to provide valuable data on India’s population, which has grown significantly since the last census in 2011. The country’s estimated population now stands at over 1.4 billion, making it the world’s most populous nation. This data will underpin the distribution of government welfare programmes and public policies.

The census also aims to gather information on social and economic characteristics, including religion and caste. Caste is an ancient system of social hierarchy in India that influences social standing and access to resources. The country has limited or outdated data on how many people belong to different castes.

India’s population data will have significant implications for the country’s politics and governance. The census may prompt a redrawing of the country’s political map, with potential changes to the number of seats in parliament and state legislatures. The 2023 law reserving one-third of legislative seats for women may also be affected by any expansion.

The last attempt to gather detailed caste information through a census was conducted in 1931 during British colonial rule. Since then, India has only counted Dalits and Adivasis, members of marginalised groups known as scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.

Source: Al Jazeera