India is expected to initiate its delayed national census early next year, sources familiar with the plan revealed on Monday. The move would launch a comprehensive data-gathering operation that has taken place every ten years since 1872, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The census, while always a key demographic exercise, will carry particular importance this time, with expected completion by 2026. This round could serve as the foundation for a major political process—the redrawing of parliamentary constituencies.
This redistricting exercise, known as delimitation, is projected to stir complex debates and revive longstanding tensions about representation between the northern and southern regions of India. India’s northern states, which are generally less affluent and have higher population growth rates, may advocate for more seats based on their numbers, while the more prosperous southern states with lower birth rates may find this contentious. The political implications are likely to be significant.
The once-a-decade census effort has faced disruption only twice in its history: in 1941 due to World War II, and most recently in 2021 due to the pandemic. Since 1951, India has reliably conducted this large-scale enumeration process every ten years, making the current delay exceptional. To date, no official announcement has been made about the census schedule, though sources suggest that it may be set to commence soon.
“In all probability, the work for the census and the National Population Register (NPR) will begin early next year, with population data likely to be published by 2026,” a person familiar with the details stated. “This may also mean a shift in the census cycle going forward. So, future rounds could follow a new ten-year cycle of 2025-2035, 2035-2045, and so on,” they added.
The undertaking is monumental, involving data collection on population size, distribution, demographics, socioeconomic indicators, and more. It is widely seen as essential for effective policymaking, economic planning, and social welfare initiatives.