The government is set to launch the next census, an official population survey, in 2025 after a four-year delay, sources revealed on Monday. The process will begin in 2025 and continue until 2026. Following the census, the delimitation of Lok Sabha seats is expected to start, with completion likely by 2028.
Amid demands from opposition parties for a caste census, the government has not made a final decision. However, sources suggest that the next census could include surveys of sub-sects within General and SC-ST categories, along with the usual categorization by religion and social class.
Opposition parties, including Congress, are pushing for a nationwide caste census. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called for an all-party meeting to discuss the inclusion of caste data in the census and its impact on the allocation of Lok Sabha seats. Other leaders, such as Manickam Tagore, have criticized the government for not committing to a caste census, accusing it of betraying OBC communities.
NDA allies, including JDU and LJP, have also voiced support for a caste census, advocating for its inclusion in the upcoming population survey to empower marginalized communities. They argue that the data should be used for governance purposes and not made public.
The census, originally scheduled for 2021 but delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will now follow a revised timeline. The process will be fully digital, conducted via a mobile app, according to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The last census, conducted in 2011, recorded a population of over 121 crore in India with a 17.7% growth rate.