Census likely from early 2025, no decision on caste yet: Sources

DATA EXPECTED BY 2026

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NEW DELHI: In a move that is set to reshape India's traditional decadal census cycle, the much-delayed population count and the update of the National Population Register (NPR) are expected to commence in early 2025, with results likely to be declared by 2026, according to official sources.

This will establish a new timeline for future censuses, which could now follow a 2025-2035, 2035-2045 cycle, thereby realigning the country's demographic data gathering for decades to come.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2021 census, breaking a near-uninterrupted ten-year interval in place since 1951.

With no formal announcement made until now, officials have revealed that the government is preparing to resume the vital data collection process next year. This exercise, however, may not include a caste-based census, as discussions remain ongoing and no decision has been made on this politically charged aspect.

The census data collection will be led by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, which has outlined 31 questions to be posed to households. These questions cover a variety of demographic and socioeconomic factors, such as family composition, gender of the household head, Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, and economic assets including telephone, internet access, and motor vehicles.