Modi Urges Public Support for Census; Stresses Data Security
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the public to actively participate in the upcoming Census and assured that all data collected would be kept strictly confidential and secure. India's census — due since 2021 but delayed due to COVID-19 and other factors — is expected to be conducted in 2026. This will be India's 16th Census since 1881. The Census data is critical for delimitation of constituencies, allocation of resources, and planning of welfare schemes. India's population is estimated at 1.44 billion, having overtaken China as the most populous country in 2023.
Key Facts & Details
7 points- 1PM Modi urges census participation, assures data security
- 2India's Census (delayed since 2021) expected to be conducted in 2026
- 3Will be India's 16th Census; critical for delimitation and resource allocation
Deep Dive
- +The Census of India is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India
- +Census is conducted every 10 years under the Census Act, 1948
- +India's last Census was in 2011 (15th Census) — population was 121 crore
- +India overtook China as world's most populous country in April 2023 (UN data)
Exam Focus
Likely MCQ: Under which Act is the Census of India conducted? → Answer: Census Act, 1948
Related Topics
Exam Relevance & Angle
Polity & Governance: Census importance, delimitation link, and data governance.
Target Exams
Background & Context
The Census of India is a comprehensive enumeration of the country's population, conducted every 10 years under the Census Act, 1948. It is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (ORGI), under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
India's Census history:
- First modern census: 1881 (under British India)
- Post-Independence: First was 1951 (11th Census overall)
- Last: 2011 (15th Census) — Population: 121 crore
- 2021 Census was delayed due to COVID-19; now planned for 2026 (16th Census)
Key uses of Census data:
- Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies
- OBC/SC/ST reservation — data for identifying beneficiaries
- Resource allocation among states (Finance Commission)
- Planning welfare schemes (health, education, housing)
- NPR (National Population Register) updation
India's population milestones:
- 2023: India surpassed China as world's most populous — now ~1.44 billion
- 2026 Census will provide first official post-overtake data
Related GK Concepts
Must KnowTest Yourself
1 / 3The Census of India is conducted under which Act?
This topic is important for:
