India’s Long-Awaited Census To Begin In 2025
India's Long-Awaited Census To Begin In 2025 ( Representational Image)
India is set to embark on its long-delayed decadal census in 2025, a monumental exercise that will reshape the country’s political landscape. The census, delayed since 2020 due to the pandemic, will conclude by 2026 and serve as the basis for redrawing Lok Sabha constituencies.
The significance of this census cannot be overstated. It will impact the country’s political representation, potentially widening India’s political fault lines between the populous northern states and the southern provinces with lower birth rates. The delimitation process, expected to be completed by 2028, will likely be fractious.
A key aspect of the census is the demand for a caste-based enumeration, supported by opposition parties and some allies of the ruling BJP. The census currently counts scheduled castes and tribes, but the practice of counting all castes was discontinued after independence. The ruling BJP is yet to take a firm stance on the issue, despite allies like JD(U) expressing support.
The 2025 census will be India’s first digital census, allowing citizens to self-enumerate through a designed portal. The National Population Register (NPR) update will also be conducted simultaneously. The entire census and NPR exercise is likely to cost over ₹12,000 crore.
According to sources, the questionnaire will have 31 questions, covering key details like household size, access to amenities, and more. The census will have far-reaching implications for India’s political landscape. With the delimitation process expected to be completed by 2028, the country will witness significant changes in its political representation.
The census will also impact the implementation of the women’s reservation bill, which sets aside a third of seats in the Lower House and state assemblies. Political scientists Milan Vaishnav and Jamie Hinston calculate that Uttar Pradesh’s Lok Sabha delegation could balloon from 80 to 143, while Kerala’s would remain unchanged at 20, and Tamil Nadu’s would grow from 39 to 49.
Southern leaders, including Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, have expressed concerns about falling birth rates in their respective provinces. The demand for a caste census has gained momentum, with states like Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka completing their own caste surveys.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has urged the government to hold an all-party meeting to discuss the census. “Will this new census include a detailed enumeration of all castes in the country?” Ramesh asked. The BJP’s ideological affiliate, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, has articulated that while it does not oppose a caste census, it is against the exercise being used for political purposes.
As India prepares for its monumental census exercise, the country waits with bated breath for the outcome. Will the census include a detailed enumeration of all castes? Only time will tell.
