New Delhi: Hours after reports quoting government sources said that the census is all set to start next year and continue till 2026, the Congress on Monday raised a couple of questions. The party also noted that it was the duty of the Centre to conduct caste census.
Taking to X, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the extension of tenure of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner has just been notified, which suggests that census that has already been delayed will be started soon. “The extension of the tenure of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner has just been notified. It means that the long-delayed Census that was due in 2021 will finally be conducted soon. But there is still absolutely no clarity on two crucial issues,” he said.
‘Will castes be included in new census?’
In the same message, the former Union Minister also asked whether the new census would include the details of all castes apart from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, as has been done in every census since 1951. He added that as per the country’s constitution the caste census is solely the responsibility of the Centre.
The extension of the tenure of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner has just been notified. It means that the long-delayed Census that was due in 2021 will finally be conducted soon. But there is still absolutely no clarity on two crucial issues.
1. Will this new Census… pic.twitter.com/Eu4KVqxCW0
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) October 28, 2024
Calling for an all-party meeting, Rames also asked whether the census would help in determining the strength of each state in the Lok Sabha, as suggested in the constitution. “Will this work to the disadvantage of states that have been pioneers in family planning?,” he asked further.
Reason behind delay
Notably, the census was earlier scheduled to begin in 2021. However, it got delayed due to Covid. No decision hasuyet been announced on holding caste-based census. Earlier, the census was conducted at the beginning of each decade, such as in 1991, 2001, and 2011. However, following 2025, subsequent censuses is likely to take place in 2035, 2045, 2055, and so forth.
