Why is it in the news?

• The Centre appears to be preparing to conduct the Census, which was delayed in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While an official announcement has yet to be made, sources suggest that the exercise could commence next year.
• This upcoming Census is crucial for two significant outcomes: the delimitation of Parliamentary constituencies, which has been on hold for the past five decades, and the implementation of women’s reservation in Parliament.
• The year 2021 marked the first instance of India missing its decadal Census schedule since it began in 1881. Although the pandemic had subsided by 2022, allowing for the Census process to potentially start in 2023 or 2024, the government seems to have intentionally delayed it to facilitate the reorganisation of Parliamentary constituencies immediately afterward.
• However, completing the Census by 2026 or sooner may hinder the possibility of immediate delimitation.

Delimitation Process

• Delimitation is a Constitutional mandate requiring adjustments to the number of constituencies in Parliament and state Assemblies after each Census, ensuring equitable representation based on the latest population figures. This process has been suspended since 1976 due to a lack of political consensus.
• If the standard logic of delimitation is applied, the varying population growth trends across states could lead to some states losing Parliamentary seats while others gain. Southern states argue this would unfairly penalize them for effectively managing population growth.
• The last delimitation exercise in 2002, which followed the 2001 Census, merely involved redrawing existing constituency boundaries without changing the number of constituencies.
• Currently, delimitation is on hold until at least 2026, as stated in the 84th Constitutional Amendment of 2001, which mandates that delimitation can occur only based on the Census conducted after 2026.
• Thus, even if the 2021 Census had been conducted on schedule or in 2023 or 2024, delimitation could only occur after the 2031 Census. However, if the Census begins next year, delimitation could theoretically follow shortly thereafter.

Decadal Tradition of the Census

• Census exercises in India have traditionally been conducted in the first year of each decade since 1881. The Constitution mandates a Census, referenced in item 69 of the Union List, which designates the Central government as the sole authority for conducting it.
• While the Constitution references the Census concerning the reorganisation of constituencies, it does not specify a timeline or frequency for the exercise. Similarly, the Census of India Act of 1948 provides a legal framework but does not address timing or periodicity.
• Consequently, there is no explicit Constitutional or legal obligation for a decennial Census, although the British administration initiated this practice, which continued post-Independence. Most countries follow a similar cycle, with some, like Australia, conducting a Census every five years.

Schedule for Delimitation

• The Census process in India involves two main steps: a house-listing and numbering exercise, followed by population enumeration.
• House-listing typically occurs between April and September in the year preceding the Census, while population enumeration takes place from the second to the fourth week of February in the Census year.
• Population figures reflect the total as of midnight on March 1, with enumerators revisiting households in early March to account for any births and deaths during February.
• Preliminary results, particularly population totals, are usually released within a few months, while comprehensive results may take one to two years.
• A Census that begins in 2025 and concludes in 2026 may not permit immediate delimitation due to the 84th Constitutional Amendment, which stipulates that delimitation can only occur based on data from the first Census “taken after the year 2026.”
• Thus, if the Census begins next year, the government might need to amend existing provisions to facilitate delimitation in time for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Political Challenges

• Political disagreements among parties, rather than Constitutional requirements, may pose the most significant obstacles to conducting delimitation. Southern states could face reduced Parliamentary representation, leading to potential resistance to the delimitation process unless they receive compensation.
• The recommendations from the 16th Finance Commission, due to submit its report by the end of next year, may play a critical role in these negotiations.
• Furthermore, the Parliament approved the 128th Constitution Amendment last year, reserving 33% of Lok Sabha and State Assembly seats for women. However, this reservation will only come into effect after the delimitation process adjusts the seat allocations.

Caste Census Demand

• There is also growing anticipation that the upcoming Census may collect caste data to address demands for a separate caste census made by various political parties. Collecting caste information in the Census is not unprecedented; data on caste was included until the 1941 Census, and some caste-related data were collected in earlier years.
• However, this practice was discontinued after the 1951 Census, which has since focused solely on gathering information about Scheduled Castes and Tribes.