India Announces Questions for 2027 Caste Census
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India's Registrar General, the official in charge of running the national census, has notified the Household Questionnaire for the 2027 Census. This is the second phase of the planned caste census.
The census is a large survey that counts every person living in India. It is normally done every ten years and collects information about the population, including age, occupation and, this time, caste.
According to the notification, the Household Questionnaire will ask families for several types of personal details. These include Aadhaar numbers, which are unique identity numbers given to Indian residents, as well as mobile phone numbers and bank account information.
This form will be used during population enumeration, the stage of the census when officials visit each household and record answers directly from residents. Including caste questions in this stage means the government will gather detailed data on caste groups across the country.
The first phase of the caste census process had already been announced earlier, and this notification marks a further step toward carrying it out. Officials say the additional details, such as bank and mobile information, are meant to make the data more complete and useful.
The government has said that information gathered through the census helps in planning welfare programmes and policies for different sections of society. Supporters of the caste census argue that accurate caste data will help target support more effectively, though the collection of financial details such as bank accounts has drawn some public attention and debate.
Vocabulary5 words
- Registrar General
- the top official who manages the national census
- Census
- an official count of all people in a country
- Household Questionnaire
- the official form used to ask questions to each family
- Aadhaar
- a unique ID number given to people in India
- population enumeration
- the process of counting and recording every person
Quiz
Answer key
1. The Household Questionnaire has been notified 2. Aadhaar number 3. Officials visit households to record answers
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
India's _____, the official in charge of running the national census, has notified the Household Questionnaire for the 2027 Census.
This is the second _____ of the planned caste census.
The census is a large survey that counts every _____ living in India.
It normally collects information about age, occupation and, this time, _____.
The Household Questionnaire will ask families for several types of personal _____.
These include _____ numbers, which are unique identity numbers.
This form will be used during population _____.
Officials visit each household and record answers directly from _____.
The first _____ of the caste census process had already been announced earlier.
Supporters argue that accurate caste data will help target _____ more effectively.
Discussion questions
- Why might a government want to include caste questions in a national census?
- What are possible benefits of collecting Aadhaar, mobile and bank details during a census?
- What concerns might people have about sharing bank account details with the government?
- How could accurate population data help with public planning?