Census Operations Are Starting In September But The Data Collection Process Must Improve | Tirthankar Mitra

by Tirthankar Mitra

For India, correct data compilation is of paramount Importance at the present stage

August 29, 2024

KOLKATA: India’s population census was initially due for completion in 2024 but was delayed by COVID-19 pandemic. It’s resumption scheduled to begin in September this year will be a pivotal moment. The history of Indian census can be traced back to 1800 during the British colonial period. The first census of an Indian city was conducted in Dhaka in 1830 by Henry Walter who is known as the father of Indian census.

The first non-synchronous was carried out in 1872 while the first synchronous was held in 1881. The office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Ministry of Hone Affairs is responsible for conducting the census.

Indian census is more than a mere headcount. It is the foundation on which numerous policies and programmes are based and worked upon. It ranges from welfare schemes to infrastructure planning. Indeed census data influences millions of lives.

Obviously the census process was in limbo during the pandemic..It was due to start in 2021 The last census conducted in 2011 now feels like a relic of another era. The country grappled with the delay. Meanwhile, the absence of up-to-date demographic data which the census provides has far reaching implications.

For such data has dual utility. It is needed not only for policy formulation but is a touchstone for the credibility of economic indicators. Since then the country has experienced significant changes. It has become the world’s most populous nation.

The fallouts of the delay in conducting the census has been felt. The government had to rely on outdated data which hampered its ability to respond effectively to the evolving needs of the populace.

Moreover, vulnerabilities of India’s statistical structure we’re exposed by the delay. The lack of accurate demographic data undermines the accuracy of the critical survey such as those related to employment, and poverty..

The data gap presents a serious challenge for a country of India’s scale where economic trends shift rapidly. Those data driven government schemes when not based on current statistics, become misaligned leaving the most vulnerable portion of the population . The delay has other implications for the country’s economic data. The need for accurate data becomes all the more pressing as consumption pattern shifts and new economic trends emerge.

The government’s efforts to reweight categories like food in retail inflation calculations are necessary, but they have to be based on a current and comprehensive understanding of the population. Accurate data is a necessary prerequisite for it. Without it such recalibration run the risk of being out of sync with the ground reality. It will take around 18 months to complete census process. It is a reminder to the collection of timely and reliable data collection.

The government has set a target of releasing the census results by March, 2026. It is to cover a 15-year period. The delay has underscored the need for more robust data mechanism that can withstand unforeseen disruptions. It is necessary to recognise that census is not merely an immense data gathering exercise.

It is a cornerstone of governance. Accurate data is essential to address challenges in diverse fields from urbanisation and infrastructure development, to social welfare and economic planning. Being in a data void state is an unenviable position for India as in the wake of the pandemic. Time for a rethink how the country approaches data collection and utilisation. (IPA Service)