Census 2027: A Digital Leap with Ongoing Challenges

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary, Marian Alexander Baby, has voiced his support for the Census 2027 initiative, expressing concerns about the ambiguity in implementing a caste-based socio-economic survey. Baby remains optimistic about the census's success but questioned aspects such as the 'modus operandi' for collecting caste-specific data.

In a conversation with ANI, MA Baby articulated his hope for a successful census, urging national cooperation. He stressed that key aspects of the process remain unexplained, particularly regarding the socio-economic study of caste. A day prior, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his 'Mann Ki Baat' program to encourage awareness about the Census 2027, deemed the world's largest. Modi highlighted its digital transition, revealing that enumerators now utilize mobile apps for data collection, marking a significant shift towards a more digital framework.

PM Modi noted that self-enumeration has commenced in various states, with extensive household data collection already underway. He urged citizens to partake actively, emphasizing the shared responsibility of making the exercise a success. The government has allocated Rs 11,718.24 crore for the census, set to unfold in two phases: house listing from April to September 2026, and population enumeration in February 2027. In separate remarks, MA Baby criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing it of unethical conduct by allegedly buying elected representatives, which he views as reducing political integrity to mere market transactions.

(With inputs from agencies.)