After a gap of more than a decade in India, the process for Census 2025 is formally commencing. The official notification will be issued by the central government today, Monday.
New Delhi: Following a wait of over a decade, India is now initiating Census 2025. On June 16, 2025, the central government will issue a notification, paving the way for the nation's largest demographic exercise. The Ministry of Home Affairs has finalized the preparations. Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a review meeting on Monday with senior officials, including Home Secretary Govind Mohan, the Registrar General, and the Census Commissioner, reviewing the entire framework and phased implementation of the census.
Census to be Conducted in Two Phases
This census will be entirely digital. The government has clarified that a dedicated mobile application has been developed, enabling door-to-door surveys to be conducted via tablets or smartphones. The census will be completed in two main phases:
- Phase 1 – House Listing Operation: This involves inspecting every house in the country to gather information on its condition, amenities (such as toilets, electricity, water), ownership status, and construction details. This will help assess the country's infrastructure.
- Phase 2 – Population Enumeration: This phase will collect socio-economic, educational, linguistic, religious, and ethnic information on each individual residing in the house. This is the phase where the most crucial demographic information of citizens will be gathered.
3.4 Million Field Workers and 130,000 Officials to be Deployed
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 3.4 million field workers and supervisors will be deployed to successfully carry out this census. These individuals will conduct door-to-door surveys in villages, towns, and cities. Additionally, 130,000 census officials will oversee the process and verify the data.
- Data security measures are being implemented in collaboration with NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
- Data will be encrypted to prevent any possibility of leakage at any level.
- Information collected during the survey will be stored on cloud servers, accessible only to authorized officials.
- Citizens will also have the option of Self Enumeration. The government will launch a census portal where people can self-register details of themselves and their families.
Caste-Based Data Digitally for the First Time
A significant feature of Census 2025 is the collection of caste-related information. Previously, such comprehensive caste data was last collected in 1931 during British rule. This will be the first time that caste data will be collected digitally, strengthening social balance and equitable distribution of resources in policy-making.
This will be the eighth national census of independent India and the 16th overall. Census collection in India began in 1872 during the British era, but it has been regularly conducted every ten years since 1881. The 2021 census was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is now scheduled for 2025.
