Population Census Queries: Be Ready with Your Answers

Population Census Queries: India is set to conduct its population census soon, with a series of important questions included. This time, the census will cover both religion and sect information, reflecting the diverse communities in India, such as Kabirpanthi, Ravidasis, and Dalit Buddhists, among others. Including sect details aims to help in the design of policies and plans and could also serve as a political metric.

This census will feature a total of 30 questions, compared to the 29 asked in 2011. The Indian government is fully prepared to initiate this census from 2025, expected to be completed within a year, with data released in 2026. Originally planned for 2021, the census was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and delayed further by the Lok Sabha elections. Now, the government is expediting the process, as this census will inform delimitation for the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly seats. This delimitation, stalled for 50 years, will see updates in 2029, along with the introduction of women’s reservation.

While no official announcement has been made regarding caste census, sources indicate that sect-related questions will be included in the survey. This information will support the creation of targeted policies and potentially have political implications.

List of 30 Census Questions:

1. Name of the individual
2. Relationship to head of the family
3. Gender
4. Date of birth and age
5. Marital status
6. Age at the time of marriage
7. Religion
8. Sect
9. Scheduled Caste or Tribe status
10. Disability status
11. Mother tongue
12. Other languages known
13. Literacy level
14. Current educational status
15. Highest level of education achieved
16. Employment status in the past year
17. Type of economic activity
18. Type of employment
19. Industry type, employment, and services
20. Worker classification
21. Non-economic activities
22. Type of employment desired
23. Commute to work (i) One-way distance (ii) Mode of travel
24. Place of birth (if outside India, specify country)
25. Current residence (if migrated, specify details)
26. Time of migration
27. Reason for migration from the original location
28. Number of children (a) Sons (b) Daughters
29. Number of surviving children (a) Sons (b) Daughters
30. Number of children born in the past year
31. Duration of stay at the new place (since migration)
32. Original place of residence before migration

These answers will form the basis for new plans and policies, so ensure accuracy when providing information.