The Indian government has started the exercise to conduct the long-delayed population census and an announcement regarding the matter is expected soon.
The centre is believed to be keeping an ‘open mind’ to the idea of adding a caste column to the census, owing to the demand of the opposition parties.
The once-in-a-decade census was to be completed in 2021 but got delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last time the census data was published was in 2011.
“Work on holding the census is already on and a decision in this regard is likely soon,” a senior govt functionary was quoted as saying by the publication.
“This (caste count) is yet to be decided,” the official added.
The last time a census featured a caste column was way back in 1931. However, the government stopped the exercise after independence.
