Census Process Likely to Start Early Next Yr, To End by 2026
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Monday granted a two-year extension to Census Commissioner and Registrar General of India (RGI) Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan.
It is expected to pave the way for the Census exercise, delayed by over four years.
A notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs said Narayan would be in office till August 4, 2026, or until further orders, whichever was earlier.
The government has so far not made any formal announcement about the census. But as per reports, it is expected to start in early 2025 and will conclude by 2026.
But the government has not taken any decision yet on a caste census. Suggestions are being sought on whether a caste enumeration would be part of the general census exercise or not.
Till now, the population census has counted the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes separately but not the Other Backward Classes. It has also taken note of each Indian’s religion.
The four-year delay has led to a modification of the census cycle: the 2025 census will be followed by one in 2035.
Sources said a delimitation of Lok Sabha seats would start once the census is over, and would likely be completed by 2028, ahead of the next general election that will be due in 2029.
