The census, conducted every ten years, was originally scheduled for 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will last for a year.
In the first phase, residents will be able to register online, after which door-to-door visits will begin. During the census, complete information about each resident will be collected, as well as details about their living conditions. Additionally, enumerators will gather data on castes.
In 2011, India collected data on the caste affiliation of its population for the first time in 80 years; however, it was not fully published due to concerns about its accuracy. The country has many political parties focused on castes, and government institutions are required to provide quotas for lower castes as part of a positive discrimination program for employment and educational admissions. Proponents of collecting such data argue that it is necessary to assist those in need, while critics believe that the caste system is unacceptable for a country striving to take a leading position on the world stage.
According to Worldometer, India's population is 1,473,401,158, which accounts for 17.79% of the total global population. India ranks first in the world in terms of population.
