First Census in India

The first Indian census was conducted by W.C. Plowden, Census Commissioner of India on February 17, 1881. It was a great initiative towards the modern synchronous census. Since then, censuses have been taking place once every ten years without any interruption. In this Census, the focus was put down not only on full coverage but also on the classification of demographic, economic, and social characteristics. 

The first census in India took in the entire continent of British India excluding Kashmir. It also included feudatory states in political linkage with the Indian Government. However, the French and Portuguese colonial possessions were also not included. A census of Portuguese colonial dominions in India and the British Indian Census came into effect at the same time. British provinces including, Northwest Provinces, Assam, Bengal, Punjab, Madras, Baruch, Coorg, Bombay, Berar, and Ajmer besides Native states of Central India, Rajputana, the Nizam’s dominions, Mysore, Baroda, Travancore, and Cochin were included in the 1881 census.

In the 1881 Census, a ‘Census Schedule’ with 12 questions was proposed. Diverging from the Past, a question on sex was introduced, and the practice of proposing the same questions for males and females separately dropped. Instead, new questions on marital status, mother tongue, place of birth, and infirmities were included. The question on education was redesigned to the extent that for those who are uneducated was determined whether they can read and write. The caste of Hindus was determined  and in other cases, information on Sect was obtained.  Read the article below to the exact census meaning.

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Census Meaning:

Census is the process of collecting data from a whole population rather than just a sample.

For example, surveying travel time by asking every employee in an organization is the census of that particular organization but asking only 10 randomly chosen people is a sample.

What is the Census?

Census is the complete process of gathering, analyzing, assembling, evaluating, publishing, and broadcasting statistical data regarding the population and housing and their geographical location. The population characteristics include social, economic, and demographic data as of the particular date (reference period). In short, the Census is a survey that takes place every 10 years and aims to provide a complete snapshot of the country’s population and housing at a given point in time. In India, the first census was undertaken in 1872 non-synchronously in different parts.

Brief History of Census in India:

The first census in India in its present form was conducted non-synchronously between 1865 and 1872 in different parts of the country. This effort commenced in 1872 has been popularly designated as the first population census of India.  However, the first synchronous census in India was conducted in 1881. Since then, the census has been conducted constantly once every 10 years. The Indian census 2001 was the fourteenth census in the continuous series as calculated from 1872 and the sixth census since Independence. 

The enormous task of taking the census was identified and listed and the uses to which they were set down in writing. Information on the house, household amenities, and assets was also gathered. During the second phase, known as population enumeration, more comprehensive information on each individual residing in the country, Indian national, or otherwise during the enumeration period was collected. 

At the 2001 census, more than 2 million or 20 lakhs census takers were exploited to gather the information by visiting every household. The Census in India is the largest administrative activity undertaken in the world.

Why is the Census Important?

The Indian census is the most reliable source of information on demographics (population characteristics). Economic activities, Education & Literacy, Fertility & Mortality, Urbanization, Language, Religion, Migration, Scheduled caste, and Scheduled tribe, Disability, and many other socio-cultural economic and demographic data since 1872. The census is the only source of primary data in the towns, village, and ward levels. It provides important information on planning and formulating policies for central and state governments and is widely used by scholars, industrialists, business people, and many more.

Census is the base for evaluating a country's progress in the past decade, examining the ongoing scheme of the government, and most importantly planning for the future.  This is why the Slogan is widely used “Our Census - Our Future”.

Objectives and Importance of Census:

• It provides information on which population projections and workforce projections are built.

• It provides the necessary groundwork for acquiring samples for fieldwork to be undertaken in the future.

• It provides information required to study specific phenomena.

• It provides basic information for all the sectors in the country (health, education, population) with an aim to contribute to the formulation, monitoring, and evaluation of plans related to the provision of services needed by the Qatari society.

• To provide a precise picture of the status and characteristics of houses for the purpose of assisting in drawing up housing and construction plans for the future.

• To provide economic conditions and social enterprise in the public and private sector in terms of legal status, economic activity, and workforce size by gender and nationality.

• It provides important data enabling the assessment of the population status in Qatar during the inter-census period as well as examining social, economic, and demographic changes taking place during the same period in the various administrative divisions.

• It provides information on immigrant numbers, characteristics, and distribution in Qatar, specifically the immigrant workers with greater accuracy, instead of greater dependence on estimates.

• It provides detailed information about the whole population along with the social, economic, and demographic characteristics by the lowest administrative or geographical level and related rates and indicators (growth rate of population, gender and age composition, educational features, Qatari and non-Qatari workforce).

• It provides information on housing units as well as their facilities and features. The last Indian census data was conducted on living conditions, basic information required to work out a clearly defined housing policy aimed at ensuring prosperity for citizens, as well as indicators on housing conditions and the extent of their relationship with housing service.

Did You Know?

• Henry Walter is known as the father of the Indian census.

• Indian Census Data 2021 will be conducted in 16 languages.

• The Indian census 2011 covers several parameters including population, population growth rate, literacy rate, population density, sex ratio, child sex ratio (0-6 years).

• The house listing and housing census provided detailed information from the common people which is essential to launch different welfare schemes, 5-year plan, annual plan in the country for the privilege of common people.

• The Indian census is conducted by the Indian Registrar General and Census Commissioner office, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 

Conclusion

To sum up what the census is? Census is the fundamental measure of population size for countries and geographic subdivisions within countries. Also, it provides detailed information on the social, economic, and demographic characteristics of the population.