INDIA is expected to commence its long-delayed population census in September, two government sources said, as prime minister Narendra Modi aims to address significant data gaps in his third term, following years of criticism.
The country’s once-a-decade census, originally scheduled for completion in 2021, was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The new survey, once initiated next month, is anticipated to take approximately 18 months to conclude, according to two government insiders directly involved in the process.
Economists, both within the government and externally, have expressed concerns over the delay, highlighting its detrimental impact on the accuracy of various statistical surveys, including those related to economic data, inflation, and employment estimates.
Currently, most of these data sets, along with government programmes based on their outcomes, rely on the last population census conducted in 2011.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, which takes the lead in conducting the census, and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation have drawn up a timeline and are aiming to release results by March 2026, covering a period of 15 years, the officials said.
The final nod to start the process from Modi's office is awaited, one of the two officials said.
According to a United Nations report released last year, India overtook China as the world's most populous nation last year.
The home affairs and statistics ministries did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.
The government is also trying to overhaul its economic data including retail inflation, include a reweighting of its different categories including food to reflect changes in consumption patterns. (Reuters)
