The government has started preparations for the decadal census, but a decision is pending on whether to include a caste-based column, according to sources on Sunday.
Speaking anonymously, one source confirmed that the census would be conducted soon. India has conducted the census every 10 years since 1881, but the first phase of the 2021 census, initially scheduled to begin on April 1, 2020, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The implementation of the Women’s Reservation Act, passed by Parliament last year, is tied to the completion of the census. The law, which reserves one-third of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, will take effect after a delimitation exercise based on the next census.
Asked about the possible inclusion of caste data, the source said, “This is yet to be decided.” Political parties have been pushing for a caste census, but no official decision has been made.
Currently, government policies and subsidies are based on 2011 census data due to the absence of fresh figures.
The house-listing phase and the National Population Register (NPR) update, which were planned from April to September 2020, were also delayed by the pandemic. The entire exercise, including the NPR, is expected to cost more than ₹12,000 crore.
When conducted, this will be India’s first digital census, allowing citizens to self-enumerate through a yet-to-be-launched portal. A mandatory Aadhaar or mobile number will be required for self-enumeration.
The census will feature 31 questions, covering areas like household ownership of telephones, mobile phones, vehicles, internet access, and cooking fuel. Other queries include the main source of drinking water, lighting, toilet availability, and the condition of housing. Citizens will also be asked if the head of their household is a woman or belongs to a Scheduled Caste or Tribe.
The NPR will be compulsory for those who wish to exercise their right to self-enumeration instead of relying on government enumerators.
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