‘Provisional Census data expected to be out by March-April’, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• Provisional data for Population Census 2027 is expected to be released by March or April next year.
• Ladakh has become the first Union Territory to complete the entire Census exercise.
• This will be India's first Digital Census and the first since 1931 to enumerate caste, other than Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
• The Population Enumeration phase concluded in snow-bound areas of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh by September 30.
• The Census exercise in Manipur has been formally deferred "till further declaration."

Detailed Insights:

• The Population Census 2027 is the 16th Indian Census and the 8th since independence, having been postponed from its original 2021 schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Census is structured into two phases: the Houselisting and Housing Census (April-September 2026) and the Population Enumeration (February 2027).
• For specific snow-bound regions, including Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the Population Enumeration phase was conducted earlier in September 2026.
• The Digital Census approach involves mobile applications for data collection, a web-based portal for real-time monitoring, and an optional self-enumeration facility for citizens.
• The inclusion of caste enumeration (excluding SC/ST) marks a significant policy change, last comprehensively undertaken in 1931, aiming to provide updated data for targeted policy formulation and social justice initiatives.
• The Census is a Union subject under Entry 69 of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution and is legally governed by the Census Act, 1948.
• The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is the primary authority responsible for organizing and supervising the Census operations.
• Section 15 of the Census Act, 1948, guarantees the strict confidentiality of individual data collected, prohibiting its use as evidence in court or public disclosure.
• The Union Cabinet has approved a financial outlay of ₹11,718.24 crore for the implementation of the Census 2027.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Population Census: A decennial exercise conducted by the government to collect comprehensive demographic, economic, and social data about the entire population.
• Digital Census: The modern approach to census operations utilizing mobile applications, web portals, and other digital technologies for efficient data collection, monitoring, and processing.
• Caste Enumeration: The systematic recording of individuals' caste identities during the national census, intended to provide socio-economic insights for policy-making and affirmative action.
• Census Act, 1948: The parliamentary legislation that provides the legal framework for conducting the Census in India, empowering the Central Government and ensuring data confidentiality.
• Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India: The apex body under the Ministry of Home Affairs responsible for planning, executing, and analyzing the results of the Census of India.