The government’s announcement to hold the census in 2025 was widely welcomed. This reaffirms the crucial role the Census has played in shaping policy since its inception in 1872. In addition to its legacy of recording demographic shifts, economic conditions and socio-political trends, Census 2025 will be important for three crucial initiatives: decision), electoral demarcation and the establishment of the National Population Register (NPR).
During the British era, caste differences were documented to reinforce social divisions to suit colonial ambitions. However, after independence, the policy consensus shifted towards minimizing social differences, emphasizing a unified national identity rather than caste-based categorization. This approach led to a Census framework that focused primarily on Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), without any consideration for other castes. This policy direction has remained in place across all censuses, including the last one conducted in 2011. A detailed caste enumeration, if carried out by 2025, would provide data on group size, geographical distribution, gender composition and socio-economic status. a fuller picture of India’s social fabric and power structures.
Such detailed information will also play a central role in the electoral delimitation process, which is essential for redrawing constituency boundaries. It may be recalled that the 42nd Amendment Act (1976) had initially frozen delimitation until 2000 to encourage population control. The 84th Amendment Act (2002) had extended this freeze until 2026. The 2025 Census data will provide crucial demographic details, including population shifts and changes in population density, which are essential for determining constituency boundaries and reserving seats for social groups and women.
The establishment of the NPR underlines the importance of this Census. As a comprehensive database of every citizen, the NPR is intended to support the future establishment of a national register of Indian citizens. Significantly, under Section 14A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, registration of all citizens and issuance of National Identity Cards is mandatory. The data for NPR was collected as part of Census 2011, but was not followed to its logical conclusion due to a variety of factors. It remains to be seen whether the legal mandate will be fulfilled this time.
Of the three initiatives, enumeration of caste data would require extensive preparation. Historical data such as the census reports of British India, anthropological and ethnographic surveys such as the ‘People of India’ and other surveys conducted by state and central government organizations; sample surveys and administrative data should be combined to create an informed, balanced framework in the run-up to the Census. Historical caste data, such as those from the 1931 census, provide a basic, albeit limited, basis for modern planning needs. Sample surveys provide useful insights into socio-economic indicators related to caste, but also pose challenges such as sampling biases and difficulties in accurately representing smaller communities. Administrative data – such as birth, school and employment data – provide an alternative to caste-related data, but may have limitations in terms of completeness and consistency. Nevertheless, all these sources will have to be used for a proper assessment of the task ahead. Successful implementation of comprehensive caste enumeration will require multi-agency collaboration. The Census of India, with its extensive infrastructure and experience, is well suited for large-scale data collection, but would benefit from collaboration with other entities. The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), which now has constitutional status, should provide substantial support. Moreover, the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) must take on significantly greater responsibility, deploying ethnographic expertise that contextualizes caste and cultural data.
Such a collaborative framework involving the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, the National Commission of Backward Classes (NCBC) and Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) would enable a comprehensive and regionally sensitive approach that ensures the accuracy and inclusiveness of data could improve. , making it a better reflection of India’s socio-cultural diversity.
The 2025 census comes at a crucial time for India. Its success will strengthen the foundations of governance and representation in India. However, that does not only depend on the government, but on every citizen. As a cornerstone of informed governance, it is one of India’s most powerful tools for promoting a more inclusive, responsive, just and secure society. It is our national duty to ensure that the country achieves its objectives through our cooperation.
