Test run for 2nd phase of Census has ‘open column’ to record caste, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• A pre-test for the second phase of Census 2027 commenced on July 6, 2026, across 16 States and Union Territories.
• This rehearsal includes an "open column" for respondents to record their caste, signaling a potential approach for the full enumeration.
• The Union Cabinet approved the inclusion of caste enumeration in the upcoming Census 2027 on April 30, 2025.
• Census 2027 will be India's first digital census and the first to comprehensively enumerate caste since 1931.

Detailed Insights:

• The ongoing pre-test, which concludes on July 20, 2026, aims to evaluate field procedures, digital applications, and operational arrangements.
• The main Population Enumeration (PE) phase of Census 2027, where caste data will be collected, is scheduled for February 2027 for most regions.
• The "open column" methodology for caste enumeration was previously used in the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011, which recorded over 46 lakh distinct caste names, leading to concerns about data reliability.
• Post-independence, Indian censuses have only enumerated Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), making the inclusion of all castes a significant policy change.
• The Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases: Houselisting and Housing Census (HLO) from April to September 2026, followed by Population Enumeration (PE).
• The exercise will be fully digital, incorporating self-enumeration options, and has an approved financial outlay of ₹11,718.24 crore.
• Comprehensive caste data is considered crucial for evidence-based policymaking, addressing social inequalities, ensuring equitable resource distribution, and refining affirmative action policies.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Census of India: The decennial national population count conducted to gather demographic, social, and economic data.
• Population Enumeration (PE): The second phase of the census operation focused on collecting detailed individual-level data, including caste.
• Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC): A survey conducted in 2011 to collect socio-economic and caste data, separate from the decennial census.
• Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs): Constitutionally recognized groups whose populations have been enumerated in all post-independence censuses.