Census Exercise

Syllabus: Government Policies and Interventions

Source: Indian Express

Context: The Indian government has announced plans to initiate the delayed Census exercise next year, expected to conclude by 2026. This Census will impact two major processes: delimitation of constituencies and the reservation for women in legislative bodies.

About Census in India:

• Frequency: Conducted every 10 years, India’s Census provides essential population data.

• Historical background: The first Indian city census was conducted in 1830 by Henry Walter in Dacca. The first non-synchronous, nationwide census took place in 1872 under Lord Mayo. The first synchronous census occurred in 1881, led by Census Commissioner W.C. Plowden, establishing the decennial cycle.

• The first Indian city census was conducted in 1830 by Henry Walter in Dacca.

• The first non-synchronous, nationwide census took place in 1872 under Lord Mayo.

• The first synchronous census occurred in 1881, led by Census Commissioner W.C. Plowden, establishing the decennial cycle.

• Global comparison: Many countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, also conduct a census every 10 years, while some, like Canada and Japan, conduct it every five years.

• Responsible authority: The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner under the Ministry of Home Affairs manages India’s Census.

• Legal framework: The Census is governed by the Census Act of 1948, introduced by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It is a Union subject under Article 246 and is listed as item 69 in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.

• The Census is governed by the Census Act of 1948, introduced by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

• It is a Union subject under Article 246 and is listed as item 69 in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.

About Delimitation exercise:

• Definition: Delimitation is the process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral constituencies to reflect population changes. A Delimitation Commission oversees this exercise.

• Historical Context: India has conducted the Census seven times since independence, yet only four delimitations (1952, 1953, 1973, and 2002) have occurred.

• Last Delimitation: The previous delimitation in 2002 only adjusted boundaries without changing the number of seats, which has remained based on the 1971 Census for Lok Sabha and the 2001 Census for state Assemblies.

• Expected Changes: Based on the estimated population of 1.5 billion in 2026, significant seat adjustments may occur to represent population growth accurately.

Constitutional changes:

• Article 82: Requires re-adjustment of seats in the House of the People (Lok Sabha) and legislative Assemblies after each Census.

• 42nd and 84th amendments: Amendments in 1976 and 2001 froze delimitation until the first Census after 2026.

• 2026 census dependency: The first Census post-2026 will serve as a reference for re-adjustment under Article 82, potentially requiring further amendments for early implementation.

• Key articles affected: Articles 82, 81 (Lok Sabha composition), 170 (state Assemblies), and 55 (President’s election) must be adjusted to align with any changes to seat allocations.

Political challenges:

• Constitutional mandate: The 128th Constitutional Amendment mandates 33% women’s reservation in Lok Sabha and state Assemblies.

• Contingent on delimitation: The reservation will be implemented only after delimitation based on the first Census conducted post-2026.

• Impact on male representation: Women’s reservation in the current 545-member Lok Sabha would reserve 182 seats for women, impacting the availability of seats for male representatives.

• Seat redistribution: Delimitation can help reallocate seats without reducing current representation, helping to facilitate the women’s quota.

Way forward:

• Constitutional amendments: Update Articles 82, 81, 170, and 55 to align with current population data for balanced representation.

• Balanced delimitation approach: Establish fair delimitation criteria beyond population, incorporating regional growth considerations.

• Women’s reservation implementation: Initiate steps to ensure smooth seat reallocation to accommodate 33% reservation.

• Strengthen regional consensus: Work towards a balanced approach to address the North-South divide in population growth.

• Enhanced stakeholder engagement: Build support from key political stakeholders for smoother legislative amendments and policy adoption.

Conclusion:

The upcoming Census, delimitation, and women’s reservation adjustments are pivotal for aligning India’s legislative representation with its demographic reality. These changes demand legal amendments, regional consensus, and a commitment to equitable representation, ensuring legislative reforms reflect India’s evolving socio-political landscape.

Insta Links:

• No-population-census-in-the-dark-without-vital-data

• Consider the following statements: Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the density of the population of India has increased more than three times. Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the annual growth rate (exponential) of the population of India has doubled.

• Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the density of the population of India has increased more than three times.

• Between Census 1951 and Census 2001, the annual growth rate (exponential) of the population of India has doubled.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (UPSC-2009)

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: d)