Context:
Govt. dissolves panel on statistics, surveys amid delayed Census.
Census in India:
- Nodal Ministry – Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Until 1951, the Census Organisation was set up on an ad-hoc basis for each Census.
- Dealt under – Census Act, 1948.
- Piloted by – Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, then Home Minister of India.
- Constitutional Provision – Union subject under Article 246
- Listed under the 7th schedule.
- Confidentiality of Information – Information collected is not even accessible to courts of law.
- Census Act, 1948, specifies penalties for non-compliance or violation.
Historical Background:
- 1st Complete Census of an Indian City was conducted in 1830 by Henry Walter in Dacca (now Dhaka).
- 1st Non-synchronous Census was conducted in 1872 during the reign of Governor-General Lord Mayo.
- A non-synchronous census refers to a population census that is not conducted simultaneously across all regions. Instead, it is carried out at different times in different areas.
- 1st Synchronous Census was conducted in 1881, by W.C. Plowden (Census Commissioner of India).
- A synchronous census is conducted simultaneously across all regions on a specific date, ensuring uniformity in data collection.
Sixteenth Census:
- Supposed to conduct in 2021, however was postponed owing to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic and as of now, the new dates for the census have not been officially announced.
- However, it will be the 1st digital Census
- There was also a provision for self-enumeration, allowing individuals to fill out their details online.
- It is for the 1st time that information of households headed by a person from the Transgender Community and members living in the family will be collected.
- Earlier there was a column for male and female only.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the density of the population of India has increased more than three times.
2. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the annual growth rate (exponential) of the population of India has doubled.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – Prelims – 2009]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d)
