Decennial census put off till Sept. to freeze boundaries

• Recently, the central government informed States that the decennial census exercise has been postponed till September 2023 and the date of freezing of administrative boundaries has been extended till June 30, 2023.

What Norms Say?

• As per norms, a census can be conducted only three months after the freezing of boundary limits of administrative units such as districts, sub-districts, tehsils, talukas and police stations.
• The finalisation of boundaries of administrative units entails covering all jurisdictional changes between two consecutive censuses.

What is Census?

• It is a process of collecting, compiling, analyzing, evaluating, publishing and disseminating statistical data regarding the population.
• It is being conducted at an interval of 10 years.
• In India, the census was first started under British Viceroy Lord Mayo in 1872 and the first synchronous census in India was held in 1881.

Key facts about India’s census

• Nodal Ministry: The decennial Census is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Census is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, of 1948.
• The population census is a Union subject under Article 246 of the Indian Constitution.
• It is listed as serial number 69 of the seventh schedule of the constitution.

Prelims Take Away

• Census
• Decennial census
• British Viceroy Lord Mayo
• Key facts about India’s census