What Were The Challenges During Census 2011? Difficulties, Besides Opposition, That Census 2025 May Also Face

Conducting a nationwide survey of this scale has its own set of challenges, both logistical and operational, but the govt machinery is accustomed to managing complex processes of this magnitude.

The Census serves as an essential tool for understanding India's diverse population and socio-economic characteristics.

Source : ABPLIVE AI

Census 2025: There are murmurs that the Centre is preparing to conduct the long-delayed Census of India. Sources have informed ABP Live that the Centre plans to start the Census in 2025 and adjust its decadal cycle. The last Census was conducted in 2011, and while the next exercise was scheduled for 2021, it was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the sources, the upcoming Census will introduce a new timeline, shifting the next cycles to 2035, 2045, and so forth. 

Conducting a nationwide survey of this scale has its own set of challenges, both logistical and operational. However, the government machinery is accustomed to managing complex processes of this magnitude, similar to the Lok Sabha elections conducted every five years.

Census In India

The Indian Census has been conducted every ten years since 1871. The 2011 Census was the fifteenth in an unbroken series since 1872, and the seventh since India's independence. The first complete census of an Indian city took place in 1830 in erstwhile Dacca (now Dhaka). Over time, the Census has evolved significantly, with the number of questions increasing from 17 in 1871-72 to 29 in 2011.

The Census serves as an essential tool for understanding India's diverse population and socio-economic characteristics. Initially intended as a state policy measure for taxation, the Census has grown to encompass a broad range of demographic, social, cultural, and economic data. Technological advancements have also enhanced its efficiency, such as the use of scanners and Intelligent Character Reading (ICR) technology introduced in 2001. The Census provides valuable data for planners, researchers, administrators, and other stakeholders.

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Major Challenges Of Census 2011

Challenges in Conducting the Census in India 2011, a section in the paper titled "The Relevance and Ramifications of Census", outlines five major challenges in front of the government:

Designing Questionnaire: With India’s population growing each decade, the Census questionnaire must be thoughtfully crafted to ensure comprehensive data collection. Beyond selecting relevant questions, the design process requires meticulous attention to material quality and durability, as well as unique features like barcoding, sequential numbering, distinctive colour schemes, and pre-printed data fields. These elements are essential to support large-scale processing and accuracy in data handling.

Dispatching Materials: In Census 2011, materials were distributed from printing presses to 17,000 locations across India, requiring precise management of form quantities in multiple languages. This process involved careful database tracking, accurate packing and labelling of boxes, correct addressing, and coordinated loading and transportation to ensure each location received the exact materials needed.

Training Functionaries: A key challenge in the 2011 Census was ensuring consistent training for 2.7 million functionaries. This was achieved through a comprehensive training cascade: 90 trainers at the national level, 725 at the state level, and 54,000 at the district level. Each level received customised training aids, including instruction manuals, training guides, PowerPoint presentations, e-learning modules, role plays, and practice sheets. Successful collaboration between the Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India, UN agencies, and NGOs played a pivotal role in overcoming this challenge.

Creating Accurate Maps: Recognising that precise maps are essential for an accurate Census, 16 workstations were established across India in 2011. These workstations were staffed with skilled personnel and equipped with the latest hardware and software to develop a digital geographic database down to the village boundary level. Detailed mapping of 33 capital cities was also undertaken using satellite imagery, ensuring comprehensive coverage and accuracy.

Publicity Campaign: The publicity campaign for Census 2011 emphasized inclusion, particularly targeting the elderly, infants, individuals with disabilities, and women. A significant focus was placed on accurately capturing female workforce participation. To achieve this, the campaign employed various strategies, including mass media, public outreach, and digital platforms. It also featured endorsements from prominent celebrities such as Sachin Tendulkar and Priyanka Chopra, enhancing its reach and impact.

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Challenges Likely In New Census

Opposition parties have long demanded that the Census be done, but the BJP-led government at the Centre seemed to have been evading it. With recent reports suggesting the Census may be conducted next year, the Congress has pressed the government with two major questions concerning a caste-based census and delimitation.

Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, posed the following questions:

1. Will the Census include a comprehensive enumeration of all castes, beyond just scheduled castes and tribes?
2. Will the Census data influence the allocation of seats in the Lok Sabha, potentially disadvantaging states that have successfully implemented family planning initiatives?

At the ABP Live Southern Rising Summit 2024, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy stated that the Centre should not “punish” states that have supported the welfare goals set by the central government. 

"We are adhering to the Centre’s guidelines on family planning and population control. We cannot be punished for responsible action. The Centre is rewarding those who disregard these guidelines for its own political gains. If the South is denied its fair share, we will oppose it," Reddy asserted from the Southern Rising Summit stage. 

While the political hotbed will remain active till the time all details are ironed out, there is a far more pressing issue that the centre will have to make the Census a success. 

Digital Outreach

In the last Census, the government prioritised inclusivity, with a significant focus on digital media outreach. However, the digital landscape has evolved considerably from 2011 to 2024. Social media has grown into a dominant platform, with short-form videos now leading engagement. Additionally, the spread of AI-driven misinformation and fake news has escalated significantly.

During Census 2011, Instagram was just a year old, Snapchat hadn’t been launched, Twitter (now X) was five years old, and YouTube Shorts didn’t exist. In today’s digital ecosystem, where each social media platform caters to distinct audiences with unique interfaces, the Centre will need a tailored strategy to reach users effectively. This approach will require considerable time and add to the exchequer’s costs.

Beyond outreach, the government will face the critical task of countering misinformation about the Census. To address this, partnering with external fact-checking agencies and organisations skilled in detecting deepfakes and other AI-generated content will be essential to maintaining public trust.