India Census 2011 Preparation Begins

New Delhi, Feb 23 : The preparations for Population Census 2011 has commenced with the formal notification of the intent of the Government of India to conduct population count with March 1 reference date.

The Census operations are conducted in two phases. The first phase which is Houselisting & Housing Census precedes the population enumeration by about 8 to 9 months, said junior home minister Ajay Maken in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha Tuesday.

The main purpose of the Houselisting Operations is to prepare the frame for undertaking population enumeration, besides providing host of data on housing stock, amenities and the assets available with each of the household.

The Houselisting & Housing Census would be conducted from April to Sep 2010. The time schedule in each state is being notified.
In the second phase population enumeration, data on various socio-economic and demographic parameters like age, sex, literacy, religion, languages known, economic activity status and migration etc. is collected in respect of each individual. Population Enumeration will be conducted in Feb-March 2011.

As has been the practice during the past Censuses, a full dress rehearsal called Pre-Test of the Census was conducted during June 28-August 05, 2009 in 1181 Enumeration Blocks of the country. Based on the feedback of pre-test, the questions to be canvassed during Houselisting & Housing Census in 2010 have been finalized by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).

The Government has approved the final set of questions. The questions to be canvassed during the Population Enumeration will be finalized by the TAC in their next meeting.

In Census all areas including tribal areas in the country are covered. Special Tables on Schedule Tribes are also brought out.