India is expected to start a long-overdue population census in September, according to two government sources. Prime Minister Narendra Modi aims to address significant data gaps in his third term, following years of criticism. The once-a-decade census, originally scheduled for completion in 2021, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new survey is projected to take approximately 18 months to complete, said two government sources directly involved in the process.
Economists both within and outside the government have criticized the delay, arguing that it affects the accuracy of various statistical surveys, including economic data, inflation, and job estimates. Currently, most of these datasets and related government schemes rely on the 2011 population census. The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation have outlined a timeline to release the results by March 2026, spanning 15 years, according to the officials. The final approval to commence the census from Modi's office is pending.
Last year, a United Nations report indicated that India surpassed China to become the world's most populous nation. The home affairs and statistics ministries have not responded to emailed requests for comment. Additionally, the government is working to update its economic data, including retail inflation, by reweighting various categories such as food to better reflect current consumption patterns.
