Only six religion options make it to next Census form

Source: The post is based on the article “Only six religion options make it to next Census form” published in The Hindu on 27th May 2023

What is the News?

Union Home Minister has recently released a report titled, “The Treatise on Indian Censuses Since 1981.” The report mentioned some changes introduced in the next census.

About Census 2021

Census 2021 was to be conducted in two phases but has been postponed indefinitely, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 31 questions for the first phase — Houselisting and Housing Schedule — were notified on January 2020. As many as 28 questions have been finalised for the second phase but are yet to be notified.

As many as 28 questions have been finalised for the second phase — the Population Enumeration — but are yet to be notified.

The final set of questions for both phases was asked during a pre­test exercise in 2019 in 76 districts in 36 States and Union Territories, covering a population of more than 26 lakh.

What are the key changes introduced in the next census?

Digital census: The next Census is also set to be the first digital Census. The respondents will have the option to fill in the questionnaire from the comfort of their own homes.

Prepared a code directory: For the first time, a code directory has been prepared for the use of enumerators during the second phase of Census 2021. This contains possible responses and their matching codes for questions involving descriptive and non­-numeric entries. For instance, It has codes in respect of Relationship to Head, Mother Tongue and Other Languages Known, Occupation, Nature of Industry, Trade or Service, Birth Place/Place of last residence and Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) etc.

Other key changes: The next census will, a) Record details on whether a person who lives in a rented house owns a house somewhere else or does not own any residential property, b) Ask question about the availability of drinking water, it explains that “near the premises” means “within 100 metres in urban areas” and “within 500 metres in rural areas”, c) Involve risk to data bias and errors because of diverse judgement of enumerators and the persons codifying the response as well and d) Records only count Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain as options. For other religions, respondents can write the name but no separate code will be provided.

Note: Nature-worshipping Adivasis in Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Odisha have been demanding to include their Sarna faith as a separate religion. Similarly, Karnataka’s Lingayats have been making a similar demand.