Key facts
- India has begun its long-delayed decennial census to count its estimated 1.4 billion people.
- The census process involves over 3 million officials conducting door-to-door surveys.
- For the first time, citizens can self-enumerate online via a government portal in 16 languages.
- A mobile app and web-based portal are being used for data collection and management.
- The census will include a caste count in its second phase.
- The entire exercise is expected to take one year and cost $1.3 billion.
India has commenced its long-delayed decennial census, an extensive exercise aimed at counting its estimated 1.4 billion people, making it the world's most populous nation. The process, which was originally due in 2021 and postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, began on Thursday across five states and three federal territories.
Over 3 million officials, largely school teachers, will physically visit every household across the country's 36 states and federal territories, including nearly 640,000 villages. The door-to-door survey will occur in two phases: the first focusing on houses and housing conditions, and the second on inhabitants and their economic and social parameters. The entire exercise is slated to take one year and is projected to cost $1.3 billion, concluding in March of the following year.
In a significant first, India is incorporating digital tools and self-enumeration. Citizens have a window to register their details online via a government portal, which supports 16 languages, before enumerators visit. The census will be conducted using a mobile app, complemented by a web-based portal for management and monitoring. A dedicated application has also been deployed to map households into small geographic areas, aiming to ensure accuracy and prevent anyone from being missed.
The census will also gather details on castes during its second phase. India last recorded caste data in 2011, the first time in 80 years, though the data was not fully publicized. Caste remains a significant factor in Indian social and political life, influencing affirmative action policies and political party structures.