August 24th 2024.
The decadal census, an important population survey, will be conducted at an appropriate time, as stated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday. He mentioned that an announcement will be made once a decision is reached. This statement was given during a press conference in Raipur, where Shah is currently on a three-day visit to discuss the Naxal issue with top officials.
Originally, the census and National Population Register update were supposed to take place from April 1 to September 30, 2020. However, due to the outbreak of COVID-19, it was postponed. The government has not yet announced a new schedule for these operations, which has caused some opposition parties to demand a caste census. Despite this politically significant issue, there has been no official statement from the government.
Officials have stated that due to the general elections this year and time constraints, it is unlikely that the census will take place in 2024. The budget for this year has allocated only Rs 1309.46 crore for census surveys and statistics, while the entire operation is estimated to cost over Rs 12,000 crore.
Once it is carried out, this will be the first digital census in which citizens will have the opportunity to self-enumerate. The NPR (National Population Register) is a compulsory requirement for those who wish to fill out the census form on their own instead of through government enumerators. A self-enumeration portal has been designed for this purpose, but it is yet to be launched. Aadhaar or mobile numbers will be collected during the self-enumeration process.
The census authorities have prepared 31 questions to be asked during this survey. These include information on the household's access to communication and transportation, as well as basic amenities such as drinking water and sanitation facilities. The citizens will also be asked about their household's living conditions, including the type of house and number of rooms, and the demographic makeup of the household. These questions aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the population and its needs.
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