Exam Focus: This article is layered for SSC JE, RRB JE, and State PSC exams—covering definitions, legal/constitutional points, milestones, SECC, and PYQs with a crisp summary box at the end.
Table of Contents
- What is Census? (Definition, Nodal Ministry, Confidentiality)
- Significance of Census (Governance, Finance, Demarcation)
- Historical Background (Ancient to British Era)
- Key Census Milestones (1881–2021)
- SECC 2011: Aim, Difference from Census, Significance & Issues
- Digital Census & New Inclusions
- Previous Year Questions (SSC/RRB/State)
- Quick Revision Sheet (One-Page)
1) What is Census? (Definition, Nodal Ministry, Confidentiality)
Definition: Population Census is the process of collecting, compiling, analyzing, and disseminating demographic, economic, and social data of all persons in a country at a specific time.
- Nodal Ministry: Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Legal Backing: Conducted under the Census Act, 1948.
- Union Subject: Entry 69, Seventh Schedule; Article 246 (lists population census as a Union subject).
- Confidentiality: Census information is legally confidential—not accessible even to courts under the Census Act, 1948.
2) Significance of Census (Governance, Finance, Demarcation)
- Source of Data: Largest single source of demographic/economic/social statistics for India.
- Good Governance: Basis for planning, policy making, programme monitoring and evaluation.
- Demarcation: Used for delimitation of constituencies and seat allocation for Parliament, State Assemblies, and local bodies.
- Business Decisions: Helps industries identify markets and plan expansion.
- Finance Commission: Grants to States consider population figures from Census.
3) Historical Background (Ancient to British Era)
Ancient & Medieval
- Rigveda (800–600 BCE): Mentions population counting.
- Arthashastra (3rd Century BCE): Kautilya prescribed collection of population statistics for taxation.
- Ain-i-Akbari: Mughal record with comprehensive data on population, wealth, industry, etc.
Pre-Independence Attempts
- 1824 & 1827–28: Allahabad and Banaras counts by James Prinsep.
- 1830: First complete city census at Dacca (Dhaka) by Henry Walter.
- 1872: First non-synchronous census (Lord Mayo).
- 1881: First synchronous all-India census (W.C. Plowden); every 10 years since.
4) Key Census Milestones (1881–2021)
| Year | Major Highlight |
|---|---|
| 1881 | First synchronous census in British India. |
| 1891 | Coverage expanded (incl. Kashmir, Sikkim, parts of Burma). |
| 1901 | Included Balochistan, Andamans, wider regions. |
| 1921 | Only decade with population decline (-0.31%) due to 1918 flu; known as The Great Divide. |
| 1971 | Added fertility question for currently married women. |
| 1991 | Changed literacy definition to age 7+ (from 4+ in 1981). |
| 2001 | ICR (Intelligent Character Reading) tech used for digitising schedules. |
| 2011 | Notable fall in growth in EAG states observed for the first time. |
| 2021 | Planned first digital census with self-enumeration; postponed due to COVID-19. |
5) SECC 2011: Aim, Difference from Census, Significance & Issues
About: The Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) was conducted in 2011 after 1931, covering every household’s economic status and specific caste name.
Difference: The Population Census is confidential and provides a national portrait; SECC data is open to government departments and is used to identify/target beneficiaries.
- Significance: Maps inequalities and supplies quantifiable data supporting welfare/reservation; aligns with Article 340 (backward classes commission).
- Concerns: Political/social sensitivity; risk of hardening identities; data release has been partial.
6) Digital Census & New Inclusions
- Digital First: Next census planned to include self-enumeration and digital schedules.
- Inclusion: For the first time, details of households headed by a person from the Transgender Community to be explicitly collected.
7) Previous Year Questions (SSC/RRB/State)
- The first synchronous census in India was conducted in:
(a) 1872 (b) 1881 ✅ (c) 1891 (d) 1901 - The year 1921 in Indian census history is known as:
(a) Population Explosion (b) The Great Divide ✅ (c) The Big Drop (d) Year of Migration - The Census Act in India was passed in:
(a) 1947 (b) 1948 ✅ (c) 1950 (d) 1951 - SECC differs from Population Census primarily because:
(a) SECC is decennial (b) SECC is confidential (c) SECC is open for government use to target benefits ✅ (d) None
8) Quick Revision Sheet (One-Page)
- Conducted by: Registrar General & Census Commissioner (MHA).
- Legal: Census Act, 1948; Union Subject (Seventh Schedule, Entry 69; Article 246).
- Frequency: Every 10 years since 1881 (all-India synchronous).
- 1921: The Great Divide (-0.31% decadal change due to 1918 flu).
- Tech Leap: ICR used in 2001; Digital + Self-enumeration planned for 2021.
- SECC 2011: Household economic + caste data; open to Govt for welfare targeting.
- Confidentiality: Census returns are legally confidential; not available even to courts.