Will notify questions on caste for Census as per norms: govt., Pg11

Key Highlights:

• The Union Home Ministry announced that questions on caste for the Census will be notified before the second phase of the Census operation.
• This decision follows representations from various organizations and State governments, including Tamil Nadu, requesting consultations before finalizing enumeration guidelines.
• The Government of India has already notified the questions for the first phase of Census 2027, which focuses on housing conditions and household assets.
• The final questionnaire for caste enumeration is expected to be known by September, coinciding with the second phase of the population Census 2027 in specific regions.

Detailed Insights:

• The Census operation in India is conducted in two phases: the House Listing Operation (HLO) and Population Enumeration (PE).
• The first phase (HLO) gathers data on housing conditions, assets, and amenities, while the second phase (PE) collects demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural details.
• The decision to include caste enumeration in the Census follows demands for a comprehensive understanding of social stratification and inequality.
• The Ministry received multiple requests from different states and organizations, including Tamil Nadu, to consult with the states before the guidelines for enumerating castes are finalized.
• The second phase of the Census 2027 will begin in September in Ladakh and snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Census: A periodic count of a population, gathering demographic, social, and economic data.
• Caste Enumeration: The process of collecting data on the caste affiliation of individuals during a census.
• House Listing Operation (HLO): The first phase of census that collects data on housing conditions, assets, and amenities.
• Population Enumeration (PE): The second phase of census that collects demographic, socioeconomic, and cultural details of every person.