• India begins first census since 2011 to update population data
• Results could impact policies and political representation across the country

India on Wednesday launched the first phase of the world’s largest population census, a step that could reshape social welfare programs and the allocation of political seats nationwide.

The 2011 census recorded roughly 1.21 billion people, while current estimates put the population at over 1.4 billion, making India the most populous country in the world.

Originally scheduled for 2021, the new census was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and logistical challenges.

The first phase combines in-person surveys with a digital option, allowing residents to submit information via a multilingual smartphone app integrated with satellite-based mapping. Workers will spend about a month in each area documenting homes, services, and living conditions.

The second phase, planned from September through April 1 next year, will collect more detailed social and economic data, including religion and the caste system.

More than 3 million government employees are expected to participate this year, compared with 2.7 million enumerators in 2011 who surveyed over 240 million households.

The second phase aims to gather more comprehensive caste data beyond historically marginalized groups. India’s caste system is a centuries-old social hierarchy that affects individuals’ social status and access to resources, education, and economic opportunities.

There are hundreds of castes across the country, particularly among Hindus, but available data is limited or outdated. The last detailed caste census was in 1931 under British rule, and since India’s first post-independence census in 1951, only Dalits and Adivasis—members of marginalized communities known as scheduled castes and tribes—were counted.

Successive governments have avoided a full caste enumeration, citing fears of heightened social tension or unrest.

Population data collected through the census forms the basis for welfare programs and public policy planning. It could also trigger a political redistricting, as seats in Parliament and state legislatures may be increased to reflect population growth.

A 2023 law reserves one-third of legislative seats for women, meaning any expansion would raise the number of seats designated for female representatives.