Census Overhaul: Modi Approves Full Caste Enumeration for All Respondents

The Registrar General of India notified 40 questions for the upcoming Census, including personal information like bank accounts, mobile numbers, and caste details for all respondents. Traditionally, only Scheduled Castes and Tribes were enumerated by caste; now, full caste enumeration is required under sub-section (2) of section 8 of the Census Act, 1948. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved this change in April 30 last year. Respondents must provide details such as marital status, disability, and educational level digitally or on paper. Census data is kept confidential; enumerators who ask offensive questions face up to three years' imprisonment. Population enumeration starts from September 1 to 30 in Ladakh and snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, with an option for self-enumeration from August 17 to 31.