Centre To Conduct Long-Awaited Census In September, Numbers Likely To Be Out By 2026: Sources

India is set to begin its long-delayed population census in September, according to a Reuters report, citing two people familiar with the matter.

This decennial exercise, originally scheduled for 2021 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is expected to address crucial data gaps as Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on his third term in office.

Two government officials directly involved in the census process revealed that the survey would take around 18 months to complete, with results anticipated by March 2026.

The delay has sparked criticism, with economists and policymakers arguing that it has compromised the accuracy of various statistical surveys, particularly those related to economic data, inflation, and employment.

Most current data sets still rely on the 2011 census, making many government schemes and policies less effective.

Both the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation are reportedly finalising a detailed timeline for the census, pending final approval from the Prime Minister's Office.

Despite the urgency, the Union government has slashed the budget for the 2021 Census. Originally, the Union Cabinet approved Rs 8,754.23 crore for the census and Rs 3,941.35 crore for updating the National Population Register (NPR).

However, the 2024-25 Union Budget allocated just Rs 1,309 crore, a drastic reduction from the Rs 3,768 crore earmarked in 2021-22, raising concerns about the feasibility of conducting the census this year.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh voiced his disappointment over the lack of adequate funding, stating, "This is the first time since Independence that the Government has failed to conduct a census on time. The consequences on the state's administrative capabilities are serious - one example being the 10-12 crore individuals who have been excluded from the ambit of the National Food Security Act. It also means that the government will likely continue to avoid a socio-economic caste census, despite calls from its own NDA partners for the same."

The Census 2021 will also be the first digital census, offering citizens the opportunity to self-enumerate.