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India will conduct its much-delayed population census in two phases from March 1, 2027, the interior ministry said on Wednesday, after a delay of six years caused by hurdles created by the COVID-19 pandemic, among others.
India's once-in-a-decade population survey was originally due in 2021, but hit several roadblocks after the pandemic, including technical and logistical hurdles.
The UN Population Fund said in 2023 that India would have almost 3 million people more than China by the middle of that year, making it the world's most populous country.
The census will also collect citizens' caste details, the government said.
The caste system, a rigid social stratification system that dates back thousands of years, is critical in Indian life and politics. There are scores of caste-based political parties and many state institutions must offer quotas to lower castes for employment and college places.
Supporters have stressed the need for data on those deserving of government assistance, while critics say caste has no place in a country with ambitions of becoming a major world power.
India recorded its castes for the first time in 80 years in 2011 but the data was not made public as there were concerns about its accuracy.