Next Census should be the last enumeration-based one

Next Census should be the last enumeration-based one

 

Context:

India is planning to conduct its long- delayed census by shifting from the traditional enumeration-based Census in India towards a dynamic, register-based census system.

• The upcoming Census in India will be the first “digital Census”.

 

Relevance:
GS-02 (Indian Polity)

 

Dimensions of the Article

• What is a Census?
• Current need for Census in India
• About Digital Census and Dynamic Database
• Advantages of a Digital Census and Dynamic Database
• Challenges in Implementing a Register-Based Census

 

What is a Census?

• It is a complete survey that officially collects detailed information about the population of a country or a state.
• It encompasses data on demographics, education, employment, housing, and various socio-economic indicators.
• The generated detailed information helps the government in policy-making, resource allocation and planning.
• In India, Census has been conducted once in every ten years since 1881. But, the recent Census got delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Although, the Census of India Act of 1948  gives a legal framework for carrying out the Census, it does not mention its timing or periodicity.
• The Census is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Until 1951, the Census Organization was set up on an ad-hoc basis for each Census.

 

Current need for Census in India:

• Ever since the last Census which was conducted in the year 2011, the country has undergone a substantial change in its demography.
• The need to update data in various fields is crucial for effective policy making. As in the report of World Population report 2023, by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), it had stated that – India will overtake China to become the world’s most populous country by the middle of 2023.
• There has been a huge gap in the reliable data which helps government formulate policies for various sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.
• And, without a recent Census, the country lacks accurate data for planning and governance.

 

About Digital Census and Dynamic Database:

• Digital Census is where data are collected electronically rather than on paper which reduces the risk or errors and it also improves accuracy and speed up the process of data collection.
• The dynamic, register-based census system creates a continuously updated database by integrating data from various government registers, such as birth and death records, voter lists, tax records, and more.
• In a dynamic system, the advantage lies with the real-time updated data. The changes like births, deaths and even migration are updated on real-time basis. For instance, a child’s birth would automatically update in the Census database and eventually register them as a voter when they turn 18. And when a person dies, their name would be automatically removed from the voter list.
•  This system is cost-effective and even reduces the need for a massive enumeration exercise every ten years.
• Many countries, including Austria, Denmark, Finland, and Singapore, have already adopted or are moving towards register-based censuses.

 

Advantages of a Digital Census and Dynamic Database

• Cost-Effective: The traditional method of enumeration-based Census involves thousands of crores of rupees. The dynamic register-based system is cost-effective. For example, Austria’s Census cost dropped from €72 million in 2001 to just €10 million in 2011 after moving to a register-based system.
• Up-to-Date Information: The new system ensures real-time data update of births, deaths, migration and even voter.
• Improved Accuracy: This unlike the paper methods, minimizes the human errors and reduce redundancies.
• Better Resource Allocation:  With the help of the updated data about various sectors like education, health, etc, Government can plan welfare schemes more precisely.

 

Challenges in Implementing a Register-Based Census

• Combining multiple data-base: One of the greatest hurdle is combing the present multiple databases like Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID’s.
• Requirement of expertise: Data security is a significant concern when managing such vast amounts of personal information. The requirement of technical expertise and to ensure data privacy safeguards while integrating these records may be hectic.

 

Conclusion

As India prepares for its next Census, there is a growing consensus that this should be the last enumeration-based exercise. Moving towards a dynamic, register-based census can provide more accurate, up-to-date data at a lower cost. It aligns with the broader goals of “Digital India” and can significantly improve governance, policy-making, and planning processes.