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What's the article about?
- It talks about the implications of delayed Census in India.
Relevance:
- GS1: Population and related issues
Context:
- India conducts a census every 10 years, which is crucial for planning and development. However, the decennial exercise for the 2021 Census had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The government at the Centre continues to withhold political clearance, and the Home Minister has stated that the Census will take place after the 2024 general election.
- This delay has impacted the quality of all statistical surveys, including economic data, inflation, and jobs estimates.
Analysis:
- Reasons for Delay:
- The government may be eager to delay the Census until 2024 to evade the question of caste enumeration, which has been a topic of controversy.
- A Census after 2026 will become the basis of the next delimitation of Lok Sabha seats, which will involve inter-State redistribution of representation.
- Changes in the Citizenship Act and conflict between some States and the Centre regarding the National Population Register (NPR) have further muddied the discussions on Census.
- Digital Census:
- The next Census will be the first digital census, giving citizens an opportunity to “self-enumerate”.
- During self-enumeration, Aadhaar or mobile number will be mandatorily collected.
- Around 30 lakh government officials, including schoolteachers, will be assigned as enumerators, and each will be assigned the responsibility to collect details of about 650-800 people through both online and offline modes covering an estimated population of more than 140 crore.
- In normal course, completion of both the phases of the Census takes at least 11 months.
- Implications:
- The delay in the Census has impacted the quality of all statistical surveys, including economic data, inflation, and jobs estimates.
- Resource allocation under a government scheme or program is based on the Census, but if the figures are not updated, there are chances of guesswork in forming policies.
- The proposed 33% reservation for women in Parliament and Assemblies is linked to the next Census and delimitation, which adds an additional import.
- The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023, that will come into effect on October 1, will help a centralized population register, electoral register, Aadhaar, ration card, passport, and driving license databases.
- The centrally stored data will be updated real-time without human interface leading to addition and deletion from the electoral roll when an individual turns 18 and after death, respectively.
Way Forward:
- The Census is an important exercise and tool for the Government to run its various initiatives and welfare schemes, it should not be delayed further.
