The modest Rs 1,309 crore outlay in the 2024-25 Budget for Census and National Population Register (NPR) preparation, as against the Rs 12,700 crore expenditure sanctioned by the cabinet in 2019, leaves a slim chance for resumption of the exercise that has been stalled since the pandemic in 2020.
The dip in outlay for Census and NPR activities from Rs 1,564 crore announced on March 1, 2023, is significant as the next delimitation exercise – which will decide the seats to be reserved for women in Parliament for implementing the 33% quota approved last year – is to be held based on results of the upcoming Census.This delay is bound to reduce the timeframe available for implementing women’s quota in the 2029 general election.
The current freeze on delimitation of seats will end only in 2026 and the relevant Act states that the next delimitation may be carried out only on the basis of the first Census exercise to be taken up after 2026. Though the decadal pattern of previous Census would have meant that fresh delimitation would be carried out only on the basis of Census 2031, with the 2021 Census yet to be held, it may well turn out to be the basis for post-2026 delimitation.
A govt source had earlier told TOI that holding the Census every 10 years was convention and was not mandated by the Census Act or rules.
Given agricultural seasons and weather, April to March is considered the most suitable window for Census. But Census 2021 is likely to be completed over a shorter period.
The dip in outlay for Census and NPR activities from Rs 1,564 crore announced on March 1, 2023, is significant as the next delimitation exercise – which will decide the seats to be reserved for women in Parliament for implementing the 33% quota approved last year – is to be held based on results of the upcoming Census.This delay is bound to reduce the timeframe available for implementing women’s quota in the 2029 general election.
The current freeze on delimitation of seats will end only in 2026 and the relevant Act states that the next delimitation may be carried out only on the basis of the first Census exercise to be taken up after 2026. Though the decadal pattern of previous Census would have meant that fresh delimitation would be carried out only on the basis of Census 2031, with the 2021 Census yet to be held, it may well turn out to be the basis for post-2026 delimitation.
A govt source had earlier told TOI that holding the Census every 10 years was convention and was not mandated by the Census Act or rules.
Given agricultural seasons and weather, April to March is considered the most suitable window for Census. But Census 2021 is likely to be completed over a shorter period.