Why India Can't Afford Any More Delays in Conducting the Census

The census is more than just a routine exercise; it’s the foundation for understanding a country's demographics and making informed policy decisions. In India, the census typically occurs every ten years, with the last one conducted in 2011. However, the 2021 census has been delayed by three years, and this delay is having significant repercussions.

Why the Census Matters

The census isn’t just about counting the population; it’s about collecting data that helps shape the nation. It provides insights into who lives where, how cities are growing, and what social policies need adjustment. The data from the census is used to plan welfare schemes, allocate resources, and even design political strategies. For instance, past censuses have highlighted critical issues like the declining child sex ratio, prompting government interventions like the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign. It has also driven urban development programs like the JNNURM, Smart Cities Mission, and AMRUT.

The Impact of the Delay

With the 2021 census delayed, India is still relying on outdated data from 2011. This has led to several challenges:

1. Food Security: Programs like the National Food Security Act (NFSA), which is based on the 2011 census data, may be overlooking over 10 crore people who now need support. For instance, many vulnerable families, including migrant workers and the elderly, are unable to access subsidized food grains because they are not accounted for in the outdated data.
2. Employment: The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) relies on census data to allocate funds. With outdated data, the scheme struggles to effectively serve rural households, potentially leaving many without the employment they need.
3. Migration and Urbanization: States with large migrant populations, like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi, are making policy decisions based on old data, which is akin to navigating with a decade-old map. This could lead to ineffective or misguided policies.
4. Survey Accuracy: Census data is crucial for validating other key surveys, such as the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey and the Periodic Labour Force Survey. Without updated census data, the accuracy of these surveys is compromised, leading to potential misrepresentations of the economy.
5. Electoral Representation: The process of delimitation, or redrawing electoral boundaries, is directly tied to population data from the census. With the census delayed, there’s a risk that electoral constituencies will be based on outdated data, leading to unequal representation and resource distribution.

The Urgency of the Situation

Given the significant role the census plays in governance and planning, the delay in conducting it is not just an administrative setback; it’s a critical issue that affects every aspect of society. The sooner the census is completed, the sooner India can address the gaps in policy and resource allocation, ensuring that decisions are based on current, accurate data.

In a rapidly changing country like India, where the population and its needs are constantly evolving, the cost of delaying the census is too great to ignore. Countries like the UK, China, and the US managed to complete their censuses despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the importance of timely data collection. For India, the delayed 2021 census is more than just a formality—it’s a necessity that needs to be prioritized to keep pace with the country's growth and change.