POPULATION GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT

DONE BY- ANISHA KHATTRI

ROLL NO.: 2019/1491
GEOGRAPHY HONOURS, 3RD YEAR

Give a detailed account of various heads under which census of India collects data. How
has it varied since 1872?

A population census is a process of gathering, analyzing, and disseminating demographic,

cultural, and economic data about a country for a certain period of time. The wealth of
information gathered through the census is the reason why Indian census is the richest source of
data users. In 1861, the Home Department had requested that a general census of the population
be conducted. However, this was postponed to January 10, 1865. A similar census was
conducted in 1966 in various central and southern provinces. In the regions, the Census in
Punjab was held in January 1855, while in the cities, the Census in Bombay, Madras, Calcutta,
and Oudh was conducted in 1864, 1865, and 1866. In 1865, the Government of India and the
Home Department agreed to hold a general population census in 1871. The census was
conducted in most of the country in 1866-67. The details collected in the census were used to
create a House Register. The questions asked about different topics such as age, gender, race,
and education level. The questions and the principles utilized in distinctive censuses permit us to
assess the tendencies withinside the Indian Censuses. Significant adjustments were made
withinside the census questionnaires proper from 1872 to 1971

The 1881 census, which was conducted on February 17, 1881, was the first modern census in
India. It was followed by the next ten years of continuous censuses. The British provinces,
including Bengal, Madras, Bombay, Kerala, and Punjab, were included in the census of 1881.
The regions with Native states were also included. A new question on sex was introduced which
avoided asking the same questions to different groups of people. Other changes included asking
about the place of birth and infirmities.

The second census was conducted on February 26, 1891. It was mainly focused on covering
the Upper regions of present-day Kashmir, Tibet, and Burma. A number of changes were made
in the schedule for the survey, which included the question on religion. The questions were kept
the same as those in the previous census. The topics included caste or race of main religion,
literacy, occupation etc.

In 1901 the third continuous census was conducted. This census was also conducted in various
areas where detailed survey was not feasible. The census of 1901 schedule contained 16
questions Other changes were made in the caste of Hindus and Jains, except the name of the tribe
or race that they belong to. In addition, a new question about foreign language was added.

The 1911 census was conducted in all the British Provinces and Native States of India. The
census covered the whole Empire of India. The census schedule for the year 1901 included 16
questions. While age was asked, the question about religion was also expanded. The birth place
and district details were also asked.
The fifth census in the continuous series was conducted in 1921. It covered the territory of
India which is known as British India and its States. The census also included the territories
which are under the control of the Indian government. In 1921, the census questions were the
same as those asked in 1911. However, they were modified to include information on caste, race,
and religion.

The area covered in the 1931 census was the same as that of the 1921 census. It coincided with a
civil disobedience campaign. The new questions were added for the first time in 1931. The 1931
Census additionally coincided with a civil disobedience movement. The census Schedule of 1931
Census carries 18 questions as opposed to sixteen questions of 1921 census. The new questions
delivered had been- a) Earner or Dependent and b) Mother Tongue (which changed into
requested most effective in 1881). For eliciting facts on second language the question ‘different
language in not unusual place use’ changed into retained. Again, the sect changed into delivered
with faith and age changed into ascertained in admire to nearest start day.

The 1941 Census began under difficult wartime conditions. The government remained
undecided on whether or not to conduct a census until February 1940. The enumeration was done
straight into the slips, which were then sorted out to produce tables, with a deliberate effort. In
this census, the notion of a one-night enumeration was abandoned. The use of a random sample
was a key innovation in the 1941 census, and every 50th slip was marked to indicate the validity
of a sample in the census. An Individual Slip, which comprises 22 questions, was used in place
of the census schedule. The way questions are constructed has been greatly altered.

Following were the new census questions in 1941:

i. The number of children a married woman has and how many of them survive.

ii. Her age when her first kid was born.

iii. Do you employ a) hired help or b) family members, and if so, how many?

iv. Are you looking for work (if you're jobless), and how long have you been looking?

v. Besides, the question of literacy was asked in different way’ “Can you both read and write? If
so, what script do you write? Can you read only?

The first census of Independent India was held in 1951, and it was the seventh in a series of
censuses. The Census was conducted from February 9th to February 28th, 1951. The data was
updated as of dawn on March 1st, the reference date, during a three-day period from March 1st
to March 3rd. A 13-question Individual Slip was distributed to the participants. For each
individual, information such as name, relationship, birthplace, sex, age, economic position,
primary and secondary means of livelihood, religion, mother tongue, and literacy were gathered.
12 questions with subparts were common to all states, but 1 question with subparts pertaining to
fertility, unemployment, infirmity, and family size was optional in certain states. The whole state
of Jammu and Kashmir was left out of the 1951 census.
The census of 1961 began on February 10th and finished on March 1st. The revisional cycle
lasted 5 days instead of the 3 days of the 1951 Census. Individual Census Slips from 1951 and
1961 differ in the following respects. In place of age, the age at the latest birthday was requested.
In 1961, a question about civil status that had been posed in 1951 was eliminated.
The 1971 census was performed between the 10th and 31st of March, with the revisional round
taking place between the 1st and 3rd of April. It was the 11th census in a row, and the second
after independence. The economic questions were expanded even more, and a new question on
secondary work was included. There was also a concern about receiving fertility information for
currently married women. To better understand the migration element, a new question called
"Last Residence" was included.
The fourth census of Independent India was conducted from 9 th to 28th February, 1981
with a revisional round from 1st to 5th March, 1981.The reference date was set to the 1st of
March dawn, which could not be met in 1971. This census was performed in two stages, as was
the case in 1971. A Houselist Schedule was canvassed in the first phase, but the establishment
schedule, which was canvassed in 1971, was withdrawn in 1981. Individual Slip of Paper There
are two sections to the Household schedule. The first section collected information on the
household, such as religion, SC/ST status, spoken language, and the most common wall, roof,
and floor construction materials.
Parts I and II of the slide were separated. The first section comprised 16 questions that were
posed on a universal basis. The second section included six questions about migration and
fertility that were polled on a sample basis. ii. Two additional questions were added to Part I: a)
Attending school/college and b) If non-worker seeking/available for job. iii. In Part II, there was
also a question on the cause for migration.
In 1991 Census, which was the fifth census of Independent India. Both stages were carried
out in the same manner as the previous two censuses. A Houselist was canvassed in the first
phase to collect information on housing statistics as well as facilities accessible to families. The
scope of Houselist was expanded, and for the first time, a question about the type of cooking fuel
was included.
The Indian Census of 2001 was the first of the twenty-first century and the third of the
millennium. The Census-2001, like previous censuses, was conducted in two stages. Between
April and September of 2000, houselisting operations were performed, in which a houselist was
canvassed. The second phase, dubbed "Population Enumeration," took place from February 9 to
February 28, 2001, with a revision round from March 1 to March 5, 2001. The state of the
building, the number of independent sleeping rooms for married couples, the kind of toilets,
drainage availability (with further separation of open or closed drainage), bathing and cooking
facilities within the home were all gathered. The 2001 Census Household Schedule is
constructed with 23 questions that are written in 39 columns on both sides of the Schedule. For
this study, data on the age of the bride and groom at the time of their wedding was gathered.
In 2011, India's next census was held. The adoption of a National Population Register during
Houselisting and Housing Census was a significant departure. The NPR would be a
comprehensive identification data store that would aid in the provision of government benefits
and services. The availability of latrines was broken down into two categories: inside the
premises and kind of latrine. Separate classifications for divorced and separated people were
introduced in the 2011 Census compared to the 2001 Census. Mental retardation, mental disease,
and various impairments all have their own codes. Under the non-worker category, a special
code for 'Rentier' has been assigned.
In conclusion, the Indian census is more than a statistical exercise; the information gathered is
not only thoroughly inspected at multiple levels, but also provided with cross-classification of
many factors for fascinating interpretation and analysis. It is clear from the history of Indian
censuses how changes have occurred from one census to the next, based on the needs of the
period, country, as well as the demands of data consumers and technological advancements. The
Indian census is well-known for the information it provides. It is also difficult due to problems
pertaining to political, social, and cultural factors. Despite these challenges, India's census is
being conducted. Between 1951 and 2011, every census in independent India provided data on
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but not on other castes. Prior to then, caste data was
collected in every census till 1931. Caste-based data was obtained in 1941, but not released.
There is no accurate estimate of the number of OBCs, various groupings within the OBCs, and
others in the absence of such a census. A caste census would not only address the problem of
quota; it would also bring to light a slew of other concerns that every democratic government
must address. A caste census, which would provide extensive data, will enable policymakers to
establish better policies and tactics, as well as a more logical debate on sensitive subjects. A
caste census is recommended under the Constitutional Mandate. Article 340 of the Constitution
authorizes the formation of a committee to study the social and educational situations of the
underprivileged. The most convincing case for a caste census is that it provides a real source of
information on social and economic discrimination. The objective of establishing a caste-free
society emphasizes the necessity of caste counting. We won't know if we've defeated or just
buried this societal evil if we don't keep track of it. Another argument opposing caste census is
the belief that the upper caste in India has power over the lower caste. The upper class holds the
idea that caste is a vestige of the past. True enough, but only for the top crust. They are the most
privileged members of society, and their caste blindness is the result of decades of privilege that
have allowed them to accumulate social capital such as wealth, education, and connections to the
point where they no longer need to use their caste identity. Caste censuses have the potential to
burst this bubble; the upper class recognise their privileges. The upper class will be able to grasp
the junction of caste "dis-privilege" and equivalent privilege accruing to another caste thanks to
census data.