Digital Census 2024

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What is a Census?
A census is the systematic process of acquiring, recording, and calculating population information with respect to a country, territory, or place. The first comprehensive census, which has been conducted every ten years since 1872 under British Viceroy Lord Mayo, took place in the year 1881. Since 1949, it has been carried out by the Ministry of Home Affairs Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. The most recent census was conducted in 2011, and the following one was scheduled for 2021, but it has been delayed due to the pandemic.


Reasons for switch to digital census
While the whole world is undertaking innovations every second, the decision to switch towards digital census can be totally justified. The switch reflects the government's push towards innovation and use of technology.
The whole enumeration technique used to cost heavily and adds an unnecessary burden on already dwindling funds available for the general masses. These saved funds could be put to the general welfare of the Indian population. Thus, leading to higher standards of living.
Another reason that can be thought of here is the government's bent towards technology and innovation as can be seen in the case of UPI, COWIN and similar other digital initiatives.

Digital Census: Need of the hour?
The Indian government is known for embracing technological developments with open arms. Be it in the field of education, defence, or agriculture. And now, through the initiative of launching a digital census, the various benefits are as follows:
  • Contribution to digital India
The campaign ‘Digital India’, which aims at digitising India and promoting the usage of advanced technologies, will become more popular while reaching out to people and gaining contributions from them via the process of collecting information.
  • D for Dynamic Census
As the census database would be updated every moment with respect to social, economic, and demographic activities based on events in everybody’s lifestyle, we can call the big data dynamic and concurrent in nature, unlike the traditional database.
  • Aadhaar-centric databases
As the Aadhaar numbers of the people will be linked, it will open the possibility of enhancing the reach of welfare schemes and services to the genuine beneficiaries, like inclusion in the electoral list, issuance of death certificates, etc.

Mechanism followed:
People can use their mobile numbers to log in once the census portal is available and fill out their information. Individuals will need to complete the population enumeration form in the Census portal. To fill up the various options, codes will appear on the screen. A unique mobile phone will receive an identity number after self-enumeration is complete. The ID number can be supplied, which will immediately sync all the information already filled out online when the enumerator follows through with the house listing process.


Major Road blocks
"Every good thing comes with a price" . On the same lines, there are certain roadblocks towards the implementation at field level as can also be seen in the case of "Digital India Initiative".
Even today, India is lagging behind in terms of access to the internet. Internet penetration is comparably low. There exists an age divide which leads to concentration of usage of technologies to only fewer age groups. Indian society has been resistant to change, hence people might not be willing to contribute to the process as they may find it new or vague.


Conclusion
Though the government believes that the electronic census will change the way the Indian population is counted, caution still needs to be undertaken as the methodology might suffer from certain roadblocks. Effective policy implementation could pave the way for the desired results.


References

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