How India Counts Itself
The Delayed Census
Why India's census, held every decade since 1881, was postponed from 2021, the costs of relying on old population data, and plans for the next count.
India has held a census every ten years since 1881.
The postponement
The census due in 2021 was postponed due to COVID-19 and further delayed. The government announced it would be conducted with a reference date of 1 March 2027, including caste enumeration.
Why it matters
The census provides:
- Population counts for every village and town.
- Sampling frames for surveys.
- Delimitation of constituencies.
- Allocation of funds and reservations.
- Data on housing, migration and language.
Costs of delay
- Welfare targeting: food security coverage under the NFSA is based on 2011 population, possibly excluding tens of millions of eligible people.
- Surveys rely on outdated sampling frames.
- Urban areas that grew are underrepresented.
Digital census
The next census is planned to be digital, with enumerators using mobile apps and options for self-enumeration.
Scale
The census is one of the world’s largest administrative exercises, involving lakhs of enumerators.
A town's population doubled since 2011, but ration allocations still rely on 2011 numbers, leaving many new families without subsidised grain.
They affect welfare, funding and representation.
- India's census has been decennial since 1881.
- The 2021 census was postponed; the next has a reference date of 1 March 2027.
- Old data affect welfare targeting and surveys.
- The next census will be digital and include caste.
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