Delayed Census: A Threat to National Progress and Governance

Why is the Government not able to carry out the much delayed Indian census?

The release of India’s 2021 Census data has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the latest updates suggesting it may only be completed by 2026. This delay follows the 2011 Census, which also faced significant setbacks, with only partial demographic data released and essential socio-economic datasets still pending. As a result, India faces an unprecedented 23-year gap in comprehensive census data, impacting governance at all levels.Census data is crucial for policy formulation and resource allocation. At the central level, the 2011

Census guided funding for health initiatives like the National Health Mission. State-level programs, such as Tamil Nadu’s Mid-Day Meal Scheme, have also relied on census data to target vulnerable populations. Local governments use census data for urban planning, including public transport, while Panchayats assess employment needs through the data for schemes like MGNREGA.The delay in releasing Census data has serious implications.

​At UCM, we are studying the impact of the delayed Census on urban planning and the shaping of our infrastructure, amenities and facilities without the data available on urban-rural distribution, socio-economic factors and overall population demographies.