The government’s announcement to conduct the Census in 2025 has been widely welcomed. This reaffirms the critical role the Census plays in shaping policy since its inception in 1872. Beyond its legacy of recording demographic shifts, economic conditions, and socio-political trends, Census 2025 will be significant for three pivotal initiatives: caste enumeration (subject to government decision), electoral delimitation, and the creation of the National Population Register (NPR).
During the British era, caste distinctions were documented to reinforce social divisions to suit colonial aspirations. Following independence, however, the policy consensus shifted toward minimising social distinctions, emphasising a unified national identity over caste-based categorisation. This approach led to a Census framework focused primarily on Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), without any attention to other castes. This policy direction has remained in place, in all Census, including the last one conducted in 2011. A detailed caste enumeration, if undertaken in 2025, would provide data on group size, geographical distribution, gender composition, and socio-economic status, offering a fuller picture of India’s social fabric and power structures.
Such detailed information will also play a central role in the electoral delimitation process, essential for redrawing constituency boundaries. It may be recalled that the 42nd Amendment Act (1976) had initially frozen delimitation until 2000 to encourage population control. The 84th Amendment Act (2002) had extended this freeze until 2026. The 2025 Census data will provide critical demographic details, including population shifts and density changes, essential for determining constituency boundaries and reservation of seats for social groups and women.
The creation of the NPR underscores the importance of this Census. As a comprehensive database of every resident, the NPR is intended to support the future establishment of a National Register of Indian Citizens. It is significant that under Section 14A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, registering all citizens and issuing national identity cards is mandatory. The data for NPR was collected as part of Census 2011 but was not followed through to its logical conclusion due to a variety of factors. It remains to be seen whether the legal mandate is fulfilled this time around.
Of the three initiatives, enumeration of caste data would require extensive preparation. Historical records like the census reports of British India, anthropological and ethnographic surveys like the ‘People of India’ and other studies conducted by state and central government organisations; sample surveys, and administrative data would have to be combined to establish an informed, balanced framework in the run-up to the Census. Historical caste data, like that from the 1931 Census, offers a foundational basis, albeit limited for modern planning needs. Sample surveys provide useful insights into socio-economic indicators related to caste but come with challenges such as sampling biases and difficulties in accurately representing smaller communities. Administrative records — such as birth, school, and employment data — offer an alternative for caste-related data but may have limitations in completeness and consistency. Nevertheless, all these sources will have to be relied upon for a correct assessment of the task ahead.Successfully implementing expanded caste enumeration will require cooperation across multiple agencies. The Census of India, with its extensive infrastructure and experience, is well-suited for largescale data collection but would benefit from collaboration with other entities. The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), which now has constitutional status, would have to provide substantial support. Additionally, the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) has to undertake a significantly higher responsibility, lending ethnographic expertise that contextualises caste and cultural data.
Such a collaborative framework that includes the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, National Commission of Backward Classes (NCBC), and Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) would facilitate a comprehensive and regionally sensitive approach that could improve data accuracy and inclusivity, making it more reflective of India’s socio-cultural diversity.
The 2025 Census comes at a pivotal moment for India. Its success will strengthen the foundations of governance and representation in India. That, however, depends not just on the government but on every citizen. As a cornerstone of informed governance, it is one of India’s most powerful tools for fostering a more inclusive, responsive, equitable and secure society. It is our national duty to ensure that it fulfils its objectives by rendering it our cooperation.
