India is expected to begin its long-delayed population census in September. This important national survey, which happens every ten years, was supposed to take place in 2021. However, it was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The census is crucial because it provides the data needed to make important decisions, especially during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third term in office.
Timeline and Completion
Two government officials involved in the process have said that the census will take about 18 months to complete. The final results are expected to be ready by March 2026. The long delay has been criticized by many, including economists and policymakers, because it has made other important surveys, like those on economic data, inflation, and employment, less accurate. These surveys are still using information from the last census in 2011, which is now outdated.
Budget Cuts and Concerns
The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation are working on a detailed plan for the census, but they are still waiting for final approval from the Prime Minister's Office. Despite the importance of this exercise, the government has reduced the budget for the census.
Originally, the government had approved a budget of ₹8,754.23 crore for the census and ₹3,941.35 crore for updating the National Population Register (NPR). However, in the latest budget for 2024-25, this amount was drastically reduced to ₹1,309 crore. This budget cut has raised concerns about whether the census will actually happen this year.
Political Reactions
Last month, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh expressed disappointment that the government did not allocate enough money for the census. He pointed out that this is the first time since India’s Independence that a census has not been conducted on time. He also mentioned that this delay could have serious consequences, like excluding millions of people from important government programs.
First Digital Census
The Census 2021 will be the first digital census in India, allowing citizens to self-enumerate, which means they can fill out their census information online.
