Census advanced in four poll-bound States, formally deferred in Manipur, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• The Union government advanced the Population Enumeration phase of Census 2027 in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Goa, scheduling it from November 16, 2026, to January 4, 2027.
• This advancement was made for the four states due to upcoming Assembly elections early next year.
• The Census exercise in Manipur was formally deferred indefinitely following demands for a National Register of Citizens (NRC) to be compiled first.
• The second phase of Census 2027 will include 40 questions, featuring an open-ended field for recording caste details and 13 new questions compared to the 2011 Census.
• Residents in the advanced states will have the option of self-enumeration through a dedicated portal from November 16 to November 30, 2026.

Detailed Insights:

• The Census of India, typically a decennial exercise, was due in 2021 but was postponed primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent logistical challenges.
• The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is the nodal authority responsible for conducting the census.
• The Census Act, 1948, provides the legal framework for the conduct of the census, ensuring the collection of data and maintaining the confidentiality of individual information.
• The inclusion of an open-ended caste field marks a significant change, as comprehensive caste data has not been collected since the 1931 Census.
• The deferral in Manipur stems from concerns among Meitei and Naga communities about demographic changes due to alleged illegal immigration from Myanmar, amidst ongoing ethnic conflict.
• New questions in the census cover aspects like digital literacy, permanent residential address, place of COVID-19 vaccination, number of bank accounts, and identification details such as Aadhaar and voter ID numbers.
• The reference date for the advanced states is January 5, 2027, while for Ladakh and snow-bound areas, where enumeration is ongoing, it is October 1, 2026.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Census of India: A decennial exercise to collect comprehensive demographic, social, and economic data about the population.
• Population Enumeration: The second phase of the census, focusing on collecting detailed individual-level information.
• Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI): The apex body under the Ministry of Home Affairs responsible for planning and executing the census.
• Census Act, 1948: The legislation that provides the legal basis for conducting the census in India, outlining powers, duties, and confidentiality clauses.
• National Register of Citizens (NRC): An official record of legal Indian citizens, primarily aimed at identifying and documenting bonafide residents and illegal immigrants.