New Delhi: The Indian government is set to kick off a long-postponed population census in September, according to Reuters, which cites information from two sources.
Originally slated for completion in 2021, the decennial census was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new survey is expected to span approximately 18 months once it starts next month.
The postponement has drawn criticism from both government officials and external economists, who have expressed concerns about its effects on the accuracy of various statistical surveys, including those related to economic data, inflation, and employment estimates. Current data and government schemes are still based on the 2011 census figures.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, responsible for overseeing the census, along with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, has set a goal to release the results by March 2026. This timeline will account for a 15-year gap between census data.
According to an official speaking to Reuters, final approval for initiating the census process is still awaited from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office.
In related developments, a United Nations report last year revealed that India has surpassed China to become the world’s most populous country. The Indian government is also working on updating economic indicators, such as retail inflation, by adjusting category weights to more accurately reflect changing consumption patterns.