India has launched its first national census in over a decade, marking the world's largest population count with more than three million officials collecting data from over one billion residents. The two-phase exercise, billed as the most ambitious of its kind, will span a year across 36 states and federally-administered territories.
Key Takeaways
India has begun its first population census since 2011, involving over three million officials collecting data from more than one billion residents across 36 states and territories.
- Census includes 33 questions covering housing, demographics, education, migration, fertility, and caste
- Data collection will span a year with two phases: house listing (April-May) and population enumeration (February 2027)
- First digital census using mobile apps for data collection
- Caste enumeration included despite political sensitivity
- Last census delayed due to pandemic and administrative issues
According to BBC, enumerators will ask 33 questions covering housing conditions, amenities, household assets, demographics, education, migration, fertility, and caste. The first phase involves house listing and housing surveys from April 1 to May 15 in selected regions like Delhi and Karnataka. A second phase for population enumeration is scheduled for February 2027.
As reported by Al Jazeera, the census will also include caste data, a politically sensitive issue that has long been debated. The last attempt to gather detailed caste information dates back to 1931 during British colonial rule. Successive governments have resisted conducting a full caste count due to concerns about heightening social tensions.
The census is crucial for policy, welfare delivery, and political representation in the world's most populous country. With more than 1.4 billion people, India overtook China in 2023, according to the United Nations Population Fund. The data collected will underpin the distribution of government welfare programs and may prompt a redrawing of India's political map.
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