Q. Consider the following statements:
1. The Census Act of 1948 mandates that the Census in India be conducted every ten years.
2. In India, the Census is carried out using direct data collection techniques such as household surveys and enumerations.
3. A register-based Census uses data collected from administrative registers maintained by government agencies.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation –
Statement 1 is incorrect. The Census Act of 1948 provides the legal framework for conducting the census in India but does not mandate that it be conducted every ten years. The decennial (every ten years) census is a convention that has been followed since 1881, but it is not a requirement specified by the Act.
Statements 2 and 3 are correct. The traditional method of conducting the census in India involves direct data collection through household surveys and enumerations, where enumerators visit households to gather information. The upcoming census is set to be India’s first digital census, incorporating technology to enhance data collection efficiency and accuracy. A register-based census relies on data collected from various administrative registers maintained by government agencies, rather than through direct enumeration. Whereas, dynamic census is an extension of the register-based approach, where the census database is continuously updated with real-time data on social, economic, and demographic activities.
Source: The Hindu
