Minister of State for Home Affairs (MHA) Nityanand Rai stated in the Parliament that the 16th Indian Census (to be undertaken in 2021) will be India’s 1st-ever Digital Census.
- Data for the Census 2021 will be collected through mobile Apps and will be uploaded on the portal directly. Due to the COVID-19, Census 2021 would be delayed.
- Government of India conducts Census every 10 years. The Last Census was conducted in 2011.
Highlights of 2021 Census
i.It will be conducted in 18 languages out of 22 Languages (mentioned under 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution) and English. The 2011 Census was conducted only in 16 languages.
- No document will be required by the citizens to be shown as a proof. It will also have provisions for Self-enumeration.
- For the 1st time the information of household headed by transgender community will be collected as a new category under Third Gender.
- The Data will be made available by 2024-25.
ii.During the Union Budget 2021-22, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated INR 3,768 Crore for the 2021 Census.
Historical background: Census of India
The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India (RGCCI) under MHA has been conducting the Census of India since 1949.
- The first synchronous census in India was held in 1881 by W.C.Plowden, Census Commissioner of India. Since then it has been undertaken every 10 years.
- The first census of Independent India was conducted in 1951.
- Censuses are conducted under Census of India Act,1948.
About Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGCCI)
Registrar General and Census Commissioner – Vivek Joshi
1st Census Commissioner of India – W. W. Plowden
Established – 1961
Headquarters – New Delhi
