Census 2027: States Asked to Identify Vulnerable Areas, Keep Biased Enumerators Out

📌 Summary:

• The Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI) has directed states/UTs to identify "vulnerable areas" — regions where community tensions, remoteness, or socio-political sensitivities could affect Census 2027 data quality
• States asked to map areas prone to enumerator bias, resistance from communities, or historical undercounting (e.g., certain tribal, minority, or nomadic communities)
• Biased enumerator removal: state governments must screen and replace enumerators who show religious, caste, or political bias during training and field work
• Census 2027 will be the first post-COVID census; the last census was conducted in 2011 (2021 census was delayed due to pandemic)
• Significance: census data underpins delimitation (Lok Sabha/Vidhan Sabha seat reallocation), welfare scheme targeting (MGNREGS, PDS), and infrastructure planning
• The NPR (National Population Register) will be updated alongside the census — politically sensitive as it precedes potential NRC
• Technology upgrades: Census 2027 will use digital enumeration (mobile app-based), e-census portal, and GPS-tagged house listing
• SC/ST enumeration accuracy: critical because reservation benefits, constituency reservation, and welfare allocations depend on accurate caste enumeration
• Concern: any systematic undercounting of marginalised groups directly impacts their political representation and welfare entitlements