New Delhi: India is expected to start its long-overdue population census in September. Indias national census, which is supposed to happen every 10 years, was originally planned for 2021 but was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, once the new survey starts next month, it will take around 18 months to finish, according to two government officials closely involved in the project who spoke to Reuters.Both government and independent economists have spoken out against the delayed census, warning that it affects the accuracy of various important statistics, including economic indicators, inflation rates, and job market data. Currently, many of these critical data sets, as well as government programs that rely on them - are still using outdated information from the 2011 census.Census results expected by March 2026According to officials, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation have created a schedule to complete the census. They plan to release the results by March 2026, which will cover a 15-year period, from 2011 to 2026.The government is ready to begin the census process, but is waiting for the final approval from Prime Minister Narendra Modis office, according to one of the officials. This approval is the last step needed to move forward with the census.UN report confirms Worlds largest populationIndias population has already surpassed that of China, making it the worlds most populous nation, according to a United Nations report released last year. The upcoming census will provide an accurate count of Indias population, which is essential for planning and development purposes. Reuters reached out to the Home Affairs and Statistics ministries for comment, but they did not respond immediately. Government update economic dataMeanwhile, the government is working on updating its economic data, including retail inflation figures. As part of this effort, they are reweighting the categories, such as food, to better reflect how peoples spending habits have changed.
