CENSUS 2021 

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Context: Owing to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, Census 2021 and other Census-related field activities have been postponed. The forthcoming Census is to be the first digital Census. 

• In the Census, data is collected on demographic and various socio-economic parameters like education, SC/ST, religion, language, marriage, fertility, disability, occupation and migration of the individuals. 

Historical Significance 

• The Census was first started under British Viceroy Lord Mayo in 1872. It helped in framing new policies, government programs to uplift areas of improvement in the community. 

• The first synchronous census in India was held in 1881. Since then, censuses have been undertaken uninterruptedly once every ten years. 

• The responsibility of conducting the decennial Census rests with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 

DO YOU KNOW? 

• The earliest literature 'Rig-Veda' reveals that some kind of population count was maintained during 800-600 BC in India. 

• The 'Arthashastra' by 'Kautilya' written in the 3rd Century BC prescribed the collection of population statistics as a measure of state policy for taxation.