Context: While the Census of India collects demographic and socioeconomic information, there needs to be closer engagement between all stakeholders of the Census and the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC).
Significance of Census: Starting from the year 1881, the Census of India has the following significance -
Critique of Census:
Way forward:
Conclusion: Concerns about methodology, relevance, rigour, dissemination, transparency and privacy need to be taken seriously if this exercise is to do what it was set up to do.