India has commenced the world's largest national population count, a crucial exercise that could reshape welfare programmes and political representation. The census, originally scheduled for 2021, was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and logistical challenges.
The first phase, which began on Wednesday, will run until September. Workers will spend about a month in each area collecting data on homes and facilities, documenting housing stock and living conditions. The exercise combines in-person surveys with a digital option via a multilingual smartphone app that integrates satellite-based mapping.
The second phase, from September to 1 April next year, will record detailed information on social and economic characteristics, including religion and caste. More than 3 million government workers are expected to be deployed, compared to 2.7 million in the 2011 census, which surveyed over 240 million households.
The previous census in 2011 recorded a population of 1.21 billion. India is now estimated to have over 1.4 billion people, making it the most populous nation. The new census will attempt a broader accounting of caste beyond historically marginalised groups, such as Dalits and Adivasis, which have been counted since 1951. The last full caste count was in 1931 under British rule.
Successive governments have resisted a full caste count, fearing it could heighten social tensions. However, the data underpins welfare distribution and public policies. It could also prompt a redrawing of India's political map, as seats in parliament and state legislatures may be increased to reflect population growth. A 2023 law reserves one-third of legislative seats for women, so any expansion would raise the number of seats for female representatives.
