October 28, 2024: The Indian government is set to commence the much-anticipated national census in 2025, following a four-year delay attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic. Sources indicate that the official survey of the country's population will extend into 2026.
In a related development, the delimitation of Lok Sabha seats is expected to begin post-census, with completion anticipated by 2028. This timeline comes amidst increasing calls from opposition parties for a caste census, a demand that the government has yet to formally address.
While details regarding the census methodology remain under wraps, reports suggest that the upcoming survey may include an analysis of sub-sects within the General and Scheduled Castes and Tribes categories, alongside traditional classifications by religion and social class. This approach aims to provide a more comprehensive demographic overview.
The discourse surrounding the caste census has intensified following the government's census announcement. Congress leader Manickam Tagore criticized the government, asserting that the refusal to conduct a caste census constitutes a betrayal of OBC (Other Backward Classes) communities. Tagore took to social media, stating, "Modi’s refusal to conduct a Caste Census is a clear betrayal of OBC communities. Ignoring the voices demanding justice, he’s denying our people their due representation—all because of political arrogance." He urged regional parties, including the RSS, JDU, and TDP, to align with the demands of the people.
The census, typically conducted every decade to update the National Population Register (NPR), had originally been scheduled for 2021 but was postponed due to pandemic-related challenges. The central government has recently extended the term of Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, the current Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, until August 2026, signaling an imminent start to the delayed processes.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah previously indicated that the census would be executed digitally via a mobile application, emphasizing the government's commitment to modernizing data collection. The last census, conducted in 2011, recorded India's population at over 1.21 billion, reflecting a growth rate of 17.7%.