NEW DELHI — India has launched its long-delayed national population census, a massive undertaking expected to influence the distribution of welfare programs and reshape political representation across the country.
The census, considered the largest population count in the world, was originally scheduled for 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and logistical challenges. The last census in 2011 recorded a population of 1.21 billion. Current estimates place the population at more than 1.4 billion, making India the world’s most populous nation.
The first phase of the census began Wednesday and will continue through September. During this stage, enumerators will visit households across the country to collect data on housing conditions, infrastructure, and access to basic facilities. Each area is expected to be surveyed over the course of about a month.
Authorities said the process will combine traditional in-person interviews with digital tools, including a multilingual smartphone application that allows residents to submit information. The system is also integrated with satellite-based mapping to improve accuracy and coverage.
A second phase, scheduled from September until April 1 next year, will gather more detailed demographic information, including social and economic characteristics such as religion and caste.
More than 3 million government workers are expected to take part in the census. In 2011, around 2.7 million enumerators surveyed over 240 million households nationwide.
A key and potentially contentious aspect of the new census is its broader attempt to document caste data. Caste remains a deeply rooted system of social hierarchy in India, influencing access to resources, education, and economic opportunities. While hundreds of caste groups exist—particularly among Hindus—reliable and updated data on their population distribution remains limited.
The last comprehensive caste enumeration dates back to 1931 during British colonial rule. Since independence, beginning with the 1951 census, official counts have been limited to historically marginalized communities, including Dalits and Adivasis, classified as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and eligible for government benefits.
Successive governments have avoided conducting a full caste census, citing concerns that it could intensify social divisions and potentially lead to unrest.
The data collected through the census plays a critical role in shaping public policy, including the allocation of government welfare programs. It may also trigger a redrawing of electoral boundaries, as parliamentary and state legislative seats are adjusted to reflect population changes.
Recent legislation passed in 2023, reserving one-third of legislative seats for women, could further amplify the impact of any expansion in representation, increasing the number of positions allocated to female lawmakers.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
