Centre to Begin Census from 2025: Key Details

The Central government is set to commence the long-awaited census exercise in 2025, aiming for completion by 2026. This census was originally scheduled for 2021 but faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following its completion, the BJP-led government plans to initiate a delimitation exercise for Lok Sabha seats, which is expected to be finalized by 2028.

Delimitation and Census Timeline

• Census Start and End: The census will begin in 2025 and is projected to conclude in 2026, marking a significant delay of four years.
• Delimitation Process: The delimitation of Lok Sabha seats will commence post-census completion, with a target completion date of 2028.
• Future Census Cycles: The traditional decadal census cycle will be adjusted, with the next census scheduled for 2035.

Caste and Sect Considerations

• Caste-Based Census Demand: The Congress-led opposition has been advocating for a caste-based census. However, the government has not yet made any decisions on this matter.
• Data Collection: Upcoming census surveys may include inquiries about sub-sects within the General and SC-ST categories, as well as the number of individuals belonging to these groups.

Administrative Preparations

• Extension of Key Personnel: The tenure of Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, the current Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, has been extended until August 2026, indicating preparations for the census are underway.
• Methodology Announcement: Union Home Minister Amit Shah has stated that an announcement regarding the census methodology will be made once decisions are finalized.

The previous census recorded a population of over 121 crore in India, reflecting a growth rate of 17.7 percent.