CENSUS (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Indian Society)

Context: The Union government is yet to take a call on conducting the next Census exercise but active discussion is on to expand the data collection to include caste enumeration.

Census

• About: The total process of collecting, compiling, analyzing, and disseminating demographic, economic, and social data for all persons in a specific area at a given time.
• Purpose: Serves as a basis for reviewing past progress, monitoring current government schemes, and planning for the future.
• Nodal Authority: Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Historical Context: 

o First Non-synchronous Census: It was conducted in India in 1872 during the reign of Governor-General Lord Mayo. 

o First Synchronous Census: The first synchronous census was taken under British rule on February 17, 1881,

• Legal Framework: The Census of India Act of 1948 provides the legal basis for the Census but does not specify its timing or periodicity.
• Global Practices: While many countries, like the US and UK, follow a 10-year interval, others like Australia and Canada conduct their censuses every five years.
• Phases:

o Houselisting/Housing Census: Records details of all buildings, including type, amenities, and assets.

o Population Enumeration: Gathers more detailed individual information of residents, whether Indian nationals or others.

o Survey Process: Conducted after listing all households to be surveyed.

• National Population Register (NPR): It is a record of all usual residents in the country. Registration in the NPR is compulsory for every usual resident of India.