Key Notes On Census

The population census is an important process to collect, analyse, and segmentation of economic and social data. It provides the major trends happening in the population of the country. Also, the Indian census is considered among the most considerable administrative work across the world. It is conducted by the Central Commissioner and Registrar General of India. Also, the Indian census is organised every 10 years, which is why it is known as the decennial. The 2011 census conducted in India is said to be the largest census till now. 

Census Meaning 

Census is a crucial part of understanding the population of a country over a specific period. In India, a census is conducted every 10 years, which comes under the Census Act of 1978. The bill for the census was introduced by the Iron man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. At that time, he was the home minister of India.

Essential Features of the Census 

These are some important features of the census that you should know. 

Universality 

Every individual residing in a particular area should be included without any duplication and omission of the data. It helps in maintaining the accuracy of the data. 

Sponsorship

Conducting a census is not an easy task. The government requires essential resources and support from organisations. So, it can be done with the cooperation of Local and State governments.

Defined Period

It is vital to conduct a census at regular intervals for better understanding and comparison of data. To ensure that a particular day or moment is fixed, which is also known as the “census moment.” With the help of the census moment, it becomes easier for the enumerators to decide which individuals are needed to be included in the census. 

Simultaneity 

The population which is being enumerated should have a defined time to collect data. It is an important step to improve accuracy and then understand the facts regarding the population.

Publications and Compilations

The census meaning is incomplete unless all the information is compiled. Then it needs to be published in various geographic areas by essential variables. Therefore, the unpublished data has no use. That’s why it is important to tabulate and publish the data on time. 

Uses of Census 

Conducting a census helps in identifying potential factors for future growth and development. Thus, these are some important uses of census. 

Industry and Business

The data of the census is highly useful for various industries and business sectors. They use different forms such as agricultural census and many more to get a clear picture of future prospects for business growth and investments. The data obtained from the census also provides estimates regarding personal incomes among urban and rural areas. Overall, it is highly effective for business planning. 

Research Work 

Every data, be it population or agricultural census, has a crucial value for conducting other research works. They are essential for various scientific analyses of the distribution, composition, etc. Also, the scientists analyse patterns for rural and urban concentration, geographic location, etc. The age structure and sex are also important to identify the problems occurring in commercial and industrial development. 

Sample Surveys

The sample surveys are another important use of census data. It provides the base for the sample design and benchmark data for evaluation. The sampling frame comprises a list of persons, households, structures, etc. Hence, it can be essential to conduct several social and economic surveys without any hassle.

Economic and Social Planning 

Furthermore, the data obtained from conducting the census is also crucial for economic and social planning. It can be an excellent tool for governments to decide what steps to take next. They can take account of relevant data such as sex ratio, population migration from rural to urban, etc. Therefore, they have broad prospects for future economic planning for the country. 

Electoral Rolls

Many countries use the information of the census for establishing electoral rolls. But, the procedure is not advisable in general. The reason behind this is that it has a significant effect on the census results quality. Along with that, the pressure upon the enumerator increases. As a result, it can also falsify their replies to specific questions. These questions can be related to citizenship, age, etc. 

Policy and Administration

Lastly, the major purpose of conducting a census is for administrative purposes. The data about the cultural and social status of a region is extremely important. With its help, the seats reserved for the scheduled tribes and castes are decided at the legislative assemblies. Along with that, it also helps in conducting policies in favour of the people. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the census is a crucial tool that is helpful in analysing different factors. It helps the government to make major decisions. Therefore, it helps the country to grow by keeping the interest of the majority as well as the minority population in mind. India conducts a census every ten years. The last census was conducted in 2011. Some of the important uses of census data are sample surveys, electoral rolls, etc. Also, it is helpful for various scientific research and social and economic decisions.