Sat Feb 01 11:27:54 UTC 2025: ## Meager Budget Delays India’s Decadal Census Once Again
**New Delhi, February 1, 2025** – India’s long-awaited decadal census faces further postponement due to insufficient budgetary allocation. The Union Budget 2025-26, presented on Saturday, allocated a mere ₹574.80 crore for Census, Surveys and Statistics/Registrar General of India (RGI), a stark contrast to the ₹8,754.23 crore initially approved in 2019.
The significantly reduced allocation, down from ₹3,768 crore in 2021-22 and ₹572 crore in 2024-25, suggests the census, originally planned for 2021, will not be conducted this year. Officials estimate the complete census and National Population Register (NPR) update will cost over ₹12,000 crore.
The 2020 census and NPR update were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the government has yet to announce a new timeline, the current budget allocation casts serious doubt on its imminent commencement.
This census will be the first digital one, allowing citizens to self-enumerate through a yet-to-be-launched portal. Self-enumeration will require Aadhaar or mobile number verification and will involve detailed questionnaires covering demographics, housing conditions, amenities, and household assets. The NPR participation will be mandatory for those opting for self-enumeration. The questionnaire will encompass a wide range of questions from access to technology and sources of water and energy to details on housing materials and household composition.
First Piper 