Census of India

The decennial census of India has been conducted 15 times, as of 2011. While it has been undertaken every 10 years, beginning in 1872 under Viceroy Lord Mayo, the first complete census was taken in 1881.^[1] Post 1949, it has been conducted by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. All the censuses since 1951 were conducted under the 1948 Census of India Act, which predates the Constitution of India.^[2] The 1948 Census of India Act does not bind the Union Government to conduct the census on a particular date or to release its data in a notified period. The last census was held in 2011, whilst the next was to be held in 2021 before it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India.^[3] The next census is expected to be begin in September 2024.^[4]

^ Sugden, Joanna; Seervai, Shanoor (9 January 2015). "Where Are India's 2011 Census Figures on Religion?". The Wall Street Journal.
^ "The delay in the decennial Census". The Hindu. 9 January 2023.
^ "Explained:The delay in the decennial census". The Hindu. January 9, 2023.
^ "India to begin delayed census in Sept as Modi looks to plug data gaps, sources say". Reuters. 21 August 2024.

[1] Sugden, Joanna; Seervai, Shanoor (9 January 2015). "Where Are India's 2011 Census Figures on Religion?". The Wall Street Journal.

[early2024-2] "The delay in the decennial Census". The Hindu. 9 January 2023.

[3] "Explained:The delay in the decennial census". The Hindu. January 9, 2023.

[4] "India to begin delayed census in Sept as Modi looks to plug data gaps, sources say". Reuters. 21 August 2024.

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