Census of India

Context

Recently, the Government of India officially commenced the first phase of the 16th National Census (Census 2027) on April 1, 2026, marking the end of a long delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and administrative hurdles. The “House Listing and Housing Census” phase is currently underway across various states and Union Territories, including Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. This exercise is historic as it is the world’s first fully digital census and, for the first time since 1931, it will include a comprehensive enumeration of castes across all communities to provide updated socio-economic data for evidence-based governance and the upcoming delimitation exercise.

1. Historical Background

• Ancient Period: References to population counts are found in Kautilya’s Arthashastra (3rd Century BC) and during the Mughal era in Ain-e-Akbari.
• British Period:
  • The first non-synchronous census was conducted in 1872 under Lord Mayo.
  • The first synchronous census (conducted simultaneously across the country) took place in 1881 under Lord Ripon, led by W.C. Plowden.
• Post-Independence: The census has been conducted every ten years (decennial) starting from 1951. Census 2027 is the 16th overall and the 8th after independence.

2. Legal and Institutional Framework

• Constitutional Provision: Population Census is a Union Subject listed under Entry 69 of the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• Legislation: It is conducted under the Census Act, 1948. This Act provides the legal backing for data collection and guarantees the confidentiality of the information provided by citizens.
• Nodal Agency: The responsibility for the decadal census rests with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (ORGI), which functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

3. Key Features of Census 2027

• Digital Transformation: The transition from paper schedules to a mobile application for data collection makes it the first digital census. Enumerators will use smartphones for real-time data entry.
• Self-Enumeration: Citizens have been provided with a portal (se.census.gov.in) to fill in their own details before the enumerator’s visit. A 16-digit Self-Enumeration ID (SE ID) is generated for verification.
• Caste Enumeration: Unlike previous post-independence censuses that only counted SCs and STs, this census will record the caste status of all individuals, filling a 96-year gap since the last full caste census in 1931.
• Multi-lingual Approach: All digital interfaces and questionnaires are available in 16 languages to ensure inclusivity.

4. Phases of the Census

1. Phase I (House Listing and Housing Census – HLO): Scheduled from April to September 2026. It involves 31 questions related to house characteristics, amenities (water, electricity, toilets), and household assets (digital devices, vehicles).
2. Phase II (Population Enumeration – PE): Scheduled for February 2027. This phase captures individual-level data such as age, religion, literacy, occupation, migration, and caste.
   1. Reference Date: March 1, 2027, for most of India; October 1, 2026, for snow-bound regions like Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir.

5. Census vs. Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC)

Feature	Census	SECC (e.g., 2011)
Legal Status	Conducted under Census Act, 1948.	Not conducted under the Census Act.
Confidentiality	Data is strictly confidential; only aggregate data is released.	Data is used by government departments to grant/withhold benefits.
Objective	Provides a portrait of the population for planning.	Used to identify beneficiaries for welfare schemes.

Q. With reference to the Census of India, consider the following statements:
Statement I: The Census in India is conducted under the legal framework of the Census Act, 1948, and the data collected is protected by a confidentiality clause.
Statement II: Census 2027 is the first exercise since independence where caste-wise enumeration will be conducted for all communities beyond Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. 
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I.
(b) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II is not the correct explanation for Statement I.
(c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.
(d) Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct.
Correct Answer: (b)
Solution:
• STATEMENT I CORRECT: The Census Act, 1948, governs the census process and ensures that individual data is not shared even with other government departments or courts. 
• STATEMENT II CORRECT: Since 1951, censuses only recorded SC/ST status. Census 2027 marks the return of a full caste-based count for all categories for the first time since 1931. 
• RELATIONSHIP: While both are correct, the inclusion of caste (Statement II) is a specific feature of the current census and does not serve as a reason/explanation for the legal framework (Statement I) established in 1948.