The National Food Security Act, which was legislated during the United Progressive Alliance-2 government, aims to provide food security to 50 per cent of urban population and 75 per cent of rural population
In her maiden speech in the Rajya Sabha, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed concerns about the delay in the conduct of the decennial census, as it deprives 14 crore from availing the government’s food security net. Going by the budgetary allocations, Mrs Gandhi said the government is unlikely to conduct the Census, which would potentially deny benefits to those not enumerated since Census 2011.
The National Food Security Act, which was legislated during the United Progressive Alliance-2 government, aims to provide food security to 50 per cent of urban population and 75 per cent of rural population. The number of beneficiaries is calculated based on the population figure arrived at through the Census.
The Census was supposed to be conducted in 2021, but the Central government deferred the exercise indefinitely because of the Covid-19 pandemic. While the pandemic ended in 2023, the government has not conducted population count in the last two years. Though there were some indications about the government’s intent to conduct the Census this year, the Union Budget, as Sonia Gandhi said, remains silent about the allocation of required funds for rolling it out.
India’s population, according to the 2011 Census, was 121 crores. The country’s population in 2025, based on various metrics, is estimated to be 146 crores, which is 25 crores more than the 2011 figure. This is the first time that India did not conduct Census since 1872 but 25 crore people who were not captured in the government database form too large a section to ignore.
In modern statecraft, the Census plays a vital role in policymaking, resource allocation and public administration. In absence of the Census, people are not just denied food security, but also necessary policy interventions for equitable growth.
