Postponed for years, census process set to begin in 2025

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): India is set to begin its long-delayed decadal census, likely starting next year, according to sources familiar with the matter. This significant undertaking, which has been conducted without interruption since 1872, was disrupted by the pandemic in 2020. While the decadal census is always crucial, this upcoming round carries particular weight as it will form the basis for the redrawing of Lok Sabha constituencies through a process called delimitation. This redistricting is expected to be contentious, as it may revive longstanding disputes over political representation between the populous, less-developed northern states and the more prosperous southern states, where birth rates have fallen below replacement levels.

India’s census has been conducted every decade since 1951, but the scheduled 2021 exercise was postponed due to the pandemic. No formal announcement on the revised schedule has been made yet. According to an insider, preparations for the census and the National Population Register (NPR) are likely to commence early next year, with population data expected to be published by 2026. This delayed census is also expected to shift the country’s future census timeline to a 2025-2035 cycle, followed by 2035-2045, and so on.