In 2021, for the first time since the introduction of the decennial census, India missed conducting it. The stated reason was the Covid-19 pandemic. Even after the pandemic passed, however, the census was not conducted, leading to concerns over the nature and quality of the data on which administrative policies were being framed and implemented. Earlier this year, however, the long-delayed census process was finally initiated, and data collection has since commenced.

Initially, critics pointed out that the census’s digital-based approach presents problems of access and potential manipulation of data. The recent release of the census forms has, however, given rise to fresh concerns.

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The census questionnaire is far more detailed than its predecessors, with a total of 40 questions/categories, far in excess of the 29 in the previous census. A closer look reveals that many of these questions relate to micro-details of the individual: their Aadhaar number, voter ID, nationality, spousal details, and so on. This raises an immediate question: The purpose of a census is to collect aggregate data that can then be used as the baseline from which to develop policies and plans at a national level. It is unclear how specific individual details asked in the additional categories will aid in........

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