India is set to launch what is being described as the world’s largest population census on Wednesday, deploying more than three million officials in a nationwide exercise expected to span over a year.
The ambitious count comes as the country grapples with the demands of a rapidly growing population estimated at over 1.4 billion, placing increasing pressure on critical resources such as electricity, housing, and food supply.
Authorities say the $1.24 billion census is a major national undertaking aimed at strengthening governance through accurate data collection and evidence-based policy planning.
Officials believe the exercise will provide insights needed to tackle challenges facing urban centres, where overcrowding, pollution, and water shortages have become persistent concerns.
The enumeration will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, running from Wednesday through September, will focus on housing conditions and access to basic amenities.
Data collection will combine traditional door-to-door visits with a digital self-enumeration option via a mobile application supported by satellite mapping and available in 16 languages.
The second phase will capture detailed population data, including demographic, economic, and social indicators.
It will also cover the sensitive issue of caste—an entrenched social structure that continues to influence access to opportunities and resources across Indian society.
Caste data collection remains controversial, with previous attempts facing setbacks.
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A caste survey conducted in 2011 was never officially released due to data inconsistencies, while the last comprehensive caste-based census dates back to 1931 during British colonial rule.
The scale of the exercise presents a significant logistical challenge, comparable to India 2024 general election, which was conducted in multiple phases across several weeks.
Most of the population count will take place ahead of the reference date of March 1, 2027.
However, in high-altitude regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, enumeration will be conducted earlier, before the onset of winter conditions.
India has not held a census since 2011, after the 2021 exercise was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the last official count, the population stood at 1.21 billion, but more recent estimates by the United Nations suggest the country has since surpassed China to become the world’s most populous nation.
Officials say the new census will play a critical role in shaping future development policies and addressing inequalities across the country.