The Registrar General of India (RGI) has recently called for an update of the census register. The census, a process of systematic enumeration and data collection about a population, is a crucial tool for understanding the size, growth, and demographic characteristics of the country. This recent development indicates a potential revitalization of the census exercise, which had been previously suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Order from the Registrar General of India
The RGI has issued an order to all State coordinators to update the details of areas, localities, colonies, or buildings in the “charge register”. The charge register is a fundamental document for the census exercise, as it outlines the distribution of work among enumerators and designates the House Listing Blocks (HLB) to be visited by each official. With the help of this register, officials can efficiently gather data during the initial stages of the census house listing and the National Population Register (NPR).
Functionality of the Charge Register
The charge register serves as a guide for enumerators to perform their duties effectively. It not only aids in collecting information for the housing census and NPR but also streamlines fieldwork relating to the updating of the NPR. The register’s function is expected to remain consistent as the same officials carry out the fieldwork for both the census and NPR.
Implications of the Recent Order
The census exercise was halted indefinitely because of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the recent letter from the RGI indicates that the exercise might resume shortly.
About The Registrar General of India And Its Responsibilities
The Government of India established an organization in 1949 under the Ministry of Home Affairs, named the Census Organisation. The RGI oversees this organisation, which is tasked with conducting and analysing demographic surveys of India, such as the Census of India and Linguistic Survey of India. The office was later assigned to carry out the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
Census of India
The Census of India offers a comprehensive snapshot of the country’s population size, distribution, socio-economic, and demographic characteristics. Initiated in 1872 under British Viceroy Lord Mayo, it has been conducted every ten years, accumulating a total of 15 complete censuses until 2011.
Linguistic Survey of India
Conducted alongside the decennial Census, the Linguistic Survey of India aims to portray an updated linguistic scenario. This survey provides necessary input for social and educational planners in respective states, guiding them in achieving their targeted goals.
National Population Register (NPR)
The NPR is a register of all Indian residents. It is compiled at various administrative levels – from village and sub-town to national level, under the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955, and rules set in 2003. Every “usual resident of India” is required to register in the NPR. The data for the NPR was first collected in 2010 during the housing phase of Census 2011, and further updated in 2015 through a door-to-door survey.
