Injustice in the Delay
(Source: The Hindu, Editorial Page)
Also Read: The Indian Express Editorial Analysis: 06 June 2025
Also Read: The Hindu Editorial Analysis: 06 June 2025
| Topic: GS2 (Governance), GS1 (Indian Society – Census), GS2 (Polity – Electoral Reforms) |
| Context |
|
Background:
-
India’s decennial Census is the largest administrative exercise globally.
-
The 2021 Census was postponed citing the COVID-19 pandemic. However, no subsequent schedule was fixed even after normalcy resumed.
-
The next Census is now slated for completion by March 2027, leading to a gap of 16 years since the last one in 2011.
-
The delay directly affects delimitation, reservation for SC/ST in legislatures, and policy planning based on socio-economic data.
Democratic and Legal Concerns:
-
Article 82 and Article 170 mandate delimitation based on the latest Census.
-
Census delay undermines this, violating constitutional provisions and delaying the justice of equal representation.
-
The delimitation and reservation freeze post-2001 Census was expected to be lifted post-2026. This delay derails that plan.
Administrative and Welfare Impacts:
-
Census data is vital for planning schemes like the National Food Security Act and PM Awas Yojana.
-
Outdated data from 2011 leads to poor targeting, leakages, and exclusion in welfare delivery.
-
Local bodies also suffer due to absence of updated demographic and socio-economic profiles.
Federal Imbalance and Representation:
-
Population shifts are not captured, leading to under- or over-representation of certain states.
-
Southern states, which controlled population growth, face disadvantage in future delimitation exercises.
-
This may impact Centre–State relations and cooperative federalism.
International Comparisons:
-
Most democracies use census and household surveys effectively for dynamic governance.
-
India’s bureaucratic delays contrast with nimble data systems used in countries like the UK, USA, or South Korea.
Way Forward:
-
Government must fix a definitive Census date and begin preparatory digital enumeration.
-
Parliament should debate the impact of Census delays on democratic representation.
-
Use of interim surveys or a mini-Census must be considered for timely governance insights.
Impact of Census Delay on Governance:
| Area of Impact | Effect of Census Delay |
|---|---|
| Welfare Schemes | Outdated data affects targeting and efficiency of schemes like NFSA and PMAY. |
| Delimitation of Constituencies | Violation of constitutional requirement for updated representation. |
| Reservation for SC/ST | Inaccurate population data affects reserved seat allocation. |
| Fiscal Transfers | State allocation by Finance Commissions may be skewed due to old population data. |
| Planning and Development | Infrastructure and urban planning suffer from poor demographic visibility. |
| Practice Question:
“The delay in Census 2021 poses serious constitutional and governance challenges.” Examine its implications for welfare delivery and political representation. (GS Paper 2 | 250 words | 15 marks) |
