Census, NPR to Likely Begin Early 2025, Data Out in 2026

New Delhi: The Centre will likely begin the much-delayed decadal census exercise and the work to update the National Population Register (NPR) early 2025 and the data will be declared by 2026, thus changing future census cycles completely, official sources said.

Once this process is completed, the delimitation of Lok Sabha seats is likely to begin and is expected to be completed by 2028. However, no decision had been taken yet on whether a “caste census” will also be carried out along with the main Census.

This development comes amid demands from a large number of Opposition parties for a caste census. However, the government hasn’t yet taken any decision, and details of the Census process are yet to be made public.

“In all probability, the work for the Census and the NPR will begin early next year and the population data will be announced by 2026. With this, the Census cycle is likely to be changed. So, it will be 2025-2035 and then 2035-2045, and so on in future,” the source said. “The government has not yet taken any decision on a caste census,” the source added.

The Office of the Registrar-General and Census Commissioner prepared 31 questions to be asked to citizens during the census exercise. These questions include whether the head of the household belongs to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe and other family members as asked in earlier Census, the sources said.

The Opposition parties have demanded an all-party meeting on the issue. AICC general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said the extension of tenure of the Registrar-General and Census Commissioner had been notified and this means that the long-delayed Census due in 2021 will finally be conducted soon.

The Congress on Monday sought an all-party meet to get clarity on whether the next Census would include a detailed enumeration of all castes and whether the Census will be used for determining the strength of each state in the Lok Sabha.

“But there is still absolutely no clarity on two crucial issues. Will this new Census include a detailed enumeration of all castes in the country, in addition to that of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes that have been done in every Census since 1951? According to the Constitution of India, such a caste census is the sole responsibility of the Union government,” Ramesh said in a post on X.

“Will this Census be used for determining the strength of each state in the Lok Sabha as provided for in Article 82 of the Constitution of India (which says that the first Census taken after the year 2026 and the publication of its results will be the basis of any such reconstitution)? Will this work to the disadvantage of states that have been pioneers in family planning?” the Congress leader asked.

Congress leader Manickam Tagore said the Centre’s refusal to conduct a caste census constitutes a betrayal of OBC communities. Tagore said asked: “Will the RSS, JD-U & TDP stand with the people or stay silent?”

Partners of the BJP-led NDA have also renewed their support for a caste census. The JD-U said that it favours a caste census if the government conducts it next year.

“We are in favour of a nationwide caste census, and if the government plans to conduct the survey next year, we would be very happy if it includes a caste census. We are part of the alliance and have raised this issue within the National Democratic Alliance. A nationwide caste census will empower the underprivileged sections of society,” said JD-U national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad.

Lok Janshakti Party (LJP-Ram Vilas) MP Shambhavi Chaudhary also called for a nationwide caste census, saying it would help improve conditions for the downtrodden sections of society. She emphasised that the caste census data should be used solely for governance and not be made public.

“I think it’s a good step (conducting the Census)… We are all in favour of a caste census, as it helps provide a clear understanding of the total number of people of a particular caste, allowing us to design and implement policies accordingly,” she said.

The Central deputation of Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, currently serving as Registrar-General and Census Commissioner of India, had been extended till August 2026, paving the way for him to lead the team to carry out the much-delayed decadal Census of India.