The Census and the Remaking of a People

Paper: GS – II, Subject: Governance, Topic: Important aspects of governance, Issue: Implications of the upcoming census.

Context:

The upcoming 2027-Census (delayed from 2021 due to COVID-19) is crucial for shaping India’s democracy, polity, and resource allocation as the census data goes beyond enumeration, affecting representation, identity, governance, and development priorities.

Key Highlights:

Census as a Political and Social Tool: Census goes beyond counting people; mediates transformation from population to ‘people’. It influences electoral representation, welfare distribution and administrative boundaries.

Historical Importance of Census:

  • India has a decennial tradition of census since 1871.
  • 2027-Census will be the first since COVID-19 disruptions. It is crucial in defining parliamentary constituencies, reservation, and resource allocation

Demographic Shifts and Political Representation:

  • Migration trends: People moving from high-population to low-population areas for better opportunities.
  • Loss of representation: If population remains the sole criterion, areas with slower growth may lose representation.
  • Redistribution of Parliamentary Seats: Delimitation based on Census-2027 will influence balance of power between north and south India as the representation in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies vary.
  • Caste Enumeration: For the first time, non-SC/ST caste data may be counted post-Independence. It may lead to political demands linked to reservation policies and social justice debates.
  • Redefining Quotas: It could redefine OBC quotas and reservation ceilings and has potential to polarize or empower depending on usage.
  • Fiscal Federalism: 16th Finance Commission (2026–2031) will use census data to reallocate fiscal resources among states and address demands of backward and demographically growing states.
  • Women’s Representation: Women’s reservation to be implemented post-Census as 33% of seats in Parliament and Assemblies are reserved for women.
  • Delimitation: Census-becomes basis for seat delimitation
  • Political Identity:  Party strategies and voter engagement may take up new forms based on new data.
  • National Unity: The census redefines “We the People” by reflecting new demographic and political identities. Risks of regional imbalance and identity-based fragmentation may prop up.

Conclusion:

The 2027-Census goes beyond numbers, it will define who we are as a people, how we are represented, and how resources are distributed. It demands data integrity, political will, and inclusivity to truly strengthen democratic institutions and equitable governance.

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-census-and-the-remaking-of-a-people/article69675486.ece

La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2025 preparation.

 FOLLOW US ON:
◉ Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
◉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/

 GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.inhttps://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929+91 9052 99 2929+91 9154 24 2140

 OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar : 1524,  Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top