Knowledge Nugget | Census 2027 and Registrar General of India: A must-know for UPSC Exam 

Subject: Polity and Governance

(Relevance: The Census is scheduled for 2027 after being postponed in 2021 due to COVID-19. Any development in this aspect is important for both your Prelims and Mains examination.)

Why in the news?

The Registrar General of India (RGI) has sought a Rs 14,618.95-crore budget to conduct the Census 2027, which will be the first “Digital Census” and collect data on caste, The Indian Express has learnt. In this context, let’s know about the Census 2027 and RGI.

Key Takeaways:

1. Earlier this month, the RGI, circulated a note seeking the approval of the Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC), a central body under the Ministry of Finance that appraises government schemes and projects. Once cleared by the EFC, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will move a proposal for the approval of the Union Cabinet.

2. The amount sought is for both phases of the Census: the houselisting operation that will be conducted from April to September 2026, and population enumeration that is scheduled to begin in February 2027 in the entire country, except for Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, where it will be conducted in September 2026. 

Registrar General of India (RGI)

1. The Indian Census is the largest administrative and statistical exercise in the world. The responsibility for conducting the decadal census lies with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (ORG&CCI), which is part of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

2. According to the Census India website, the Census Organisation was set up on an ad-hoc basis for each Census till the 1951 Census. In 1948, the Census Act was enacted to provide for the scheme of conducting population census with duties and responsibilities of census officers.

3. To provide a systematic collection of statistics on the size of population, its growth, etc., the Government of India decided in May 1949 to establish an organisation in the Ministry of Home Affairs under Registrar General and ex-Officio Census Commissioner, India.

4. This organisation was made responsible for generating data on population statistics including Vital Statistics and Census. Later, this office was also entrusted with the responsibility of implementation of Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 in the country.

5. Mritunjay Kumar Narayan is the current RGI who assumed the office on November 1, 2022. Last year, his period was extended to August 4, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

6. According to the Census India website, the office of RGI is primarily responsible for the following activities:

(i) Housing & Population Census: The Census Commissioner, India is the statutory authority vested with the responsibility of conducting the Housing & Population Census in India under Census Act, 1948 and the Rules framed thereunder. 

(ii) Civil Registration System (CRS): The Census Commissioner, India is also designated as Registrar General, India under the Registration of Births & Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969, which provides for the compulsory registration of births and deaths. In this role, the RGI coordinates the functioning of the civil registration and vital statistics system in the country through all States and UTs.

(iii) National Population Register (NPR): In pursuance to provisions contained in Citizenship Rules, 2003 framed under the Citizenship Act, 1955, the National Population Register is prepared by collecting information relating to all persons who are usually residing in the country.

(iv) Mother Tongue Survey: The project surveys the mother tongues, which are returned consistently across two and more Census decades. The research programme documents the linguistic features of the selected mother tongues.

(v) Sample Registration System (SRS): Implementation of Sample Registration System, wherein large scale sample survey of vital events is conducted on a half-yearly basis, is also the responsibility of the ORG&CCI. SRS is an important source of vital rates like Birth Rate, Death Rate, Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate at the State level in the country.

History of census in India

1. The first non-synchronous, nationwide census was in 1872. This census involved counting individuals across most parts of the country; however, it did not include all territories under British control. It was non-synchronous census. 

2. The first synchronous census of India was conducted in 1881.It was conducted by W.C. Plowden.

3. Census of 1881 marked a significant advancement towards a modern and synchronized census. This census emphasized not only complete coverage but also the classification of demographic, economic, and social characteristics.

BEYOND THE NUGGET: What’s new in Census 2027?

1. The Census 2027 will be the 16th decadal Census overall and the eighth since Independence. During the exercise, village, town and ward-level population data on various parameters are collected. This includes data on housing conditions, amenities and assets, demography, religion, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, language, literacy and education, economic activity, migration, and fertility. 

2. The Centre had notified on June 16 its intention to conduct the Census 2027. This is the first time that the decennial Census has been delayed by six years. Some of the highlights of upcoming census are: 

(i) Digital Census: According to sources, the Census 2027 will be the first digital one as data will be collected through dedicated mobile applications developed for the purpose. The option to self-enumerate will also be provided to the public and caste data will also be captured electronically, sources said.

(ii) Caste enumeration in the Census: On April 30, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) had decided to include caste enumeration in the Census. 

(iii) Real-time monitoring and management: It is learnt that the RGI is also developing a website, Census Monitoring & Monitoring System (CMMS), for the real-time monitoring and management of the entire exercise. More than 35 lakh enumerators and supervisors will be deployed to conduct the Census, which is over 30% higher (27 lakh) than the functionaries deployed to conduct the Census in 2011.

Post Read Question

Consider the following statements with reference to the census in India:

1. The first All India Census was attempted in 1872.

2. From 1881, decennial censuses became a regular feature.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (UPSC-CDS(II) – 2024)

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

(Note: The aspirants should also refer to the questions from other competitive exams conducted by the UPSC which might be useful for UPSC–CSE.)

(Sources: censusindia.gov.in, Exclusive: For Census 2027, Home Ministry seeks Rs 14,619 crore budget)

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