New Delhi, Aug 27: The Government is expected to begin India’s long-delayed population census this September, with the results likely to be released by March 2026, according to sources cited by Reuters. The decennial census, originally scheduled for 2021, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving significant gaps in essential data during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term in office.
The comprehensive survey, which will take approximately 18 months to complete, is crucial for updating statistical data that underpins government policies, economic planning, and social welfare programs. Currently, much of India’s economic data relies on the outdated 2011 census, which has been criticized for rendering various government schemes less effective, reported The Hindustan Times.
The delay in conducting the census has drawn widespread criticism from economists and policymakers, who argue that the accuracy of vital data, including employment figures and inflation rates, has been compromised. The reduction in the budget allocated for the census in the Union Budget 2024-25, from an originally approved ₹8,754.23 crore to just ₹1,309 crore, has further cast doubt on the timely execution of this exercise.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh recently expressed disappointment over the government’s handling of the census, highlighting that this is the first time since Independence that the census has not been conducted on schedule. He pointed out that this delay has serious implications for the state’s administrative capabilities, including the exclusion of 10-12 crore individuals from the National Food Security Act.
The upcoming Census 2021 will be India’s first digital census, offering citizens the opportunity to self-enumerate. However, the final approval from the Prime Minister’s Office is still awaited, even as the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation work on the detailed timeline.
The delay and reduced budget have raised concerns about the government’s ability to carry out the census efficiently, but the September start date offers a glimmer of hope that this crucial exercise will finally proceed.
