Ahead of Census, States Asked to Lock Boundary Changes Before Dec 31, Pg1

Context

• The Registrar-General of India (RGI) has initiated preparations for the Population Census 2027, directing States and Union Territories to finalise administrative boundaries — including police stations, tehsils, and districts — by December 31, 2025, to ensure seamless enumeration for the upcoming Census.

Key Highlights: 

• Population Census 2027 (originally Census 2021) to begin its first phase (House Listing and Housing Schedule - HLO) on April 1, 2026.
• States must freeze administrative boundaries by December 31, 2025 to maintain data consistency.
• The Census will be conducted digitally for the first time in India.
• Around 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors will be deployed, mostly State government employees.
• Approximately 1.3 lakh Census functionaries will oversee the entire exercise.
• The 2021 enumeration blocks (EBs) — approximately 24 lakh — will be reused.
• Each enumeration block will cover around 150-180 households or 650-800 persons.
• The Census will proceed phase-wise across States, typically during the April–September period.

Detailed Insights: 

• The freezing of administrative boundaries is vital for data consistency across national datasets like population, housing, literacy, and economic activity.
• Any boundary modifications (e.g., creating new districts, altering police station jurisdictions) must be completed before Dec. 31, else they will not be reflected in Census data.
• The 2027 Census is a continuation and revision of the postponed Census 2021, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The first phase (HLO) involves assigning unique numbers to buildings, houses, and public structures to facilitate individual and household enumeration in the second phase.
• The digitisation of Census operations is expected to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and transparency, and reduce time-lags in data availability.
• Use of mobile apps and handheld devices by enumerators will replace traditional paper forms.
• The Gazette notification for final dates and questionnaire details is awaited; previously, 31 questions were notified for the 2021 Census HLO.
• The enumerator is usually a government teacher or revenue official assigned a fixed geographic block and specific training.
• Enumerators will assign building identification numbers (BIN) which help in tracking demographic shifts and infrastructure planning.
• Freezing of boundaries also impacts data for electoral rolls, development plans, and fund allocations under Centrally Sponsored Schemes.

Key Concepts Involved

• Enumeration Block (EB): A standard geographical unit used for household surveys.
• Digitised Census: Use of handheld devices, mobile apps, and centralised servers to record population data electronically.
• Data Freeze Protocol: A pre-survey process to stabilise administrative boundaries to avoid discrepancies during longitudinal data comparison. 

Mains Mock Question

Q. Discuss the importance of freezing administrative boundaries ahead of the Population Census. What are the challenges and advantages of conducting a digital Census in India?