Census 2027 to also include transgender-headed households, Rajya Sabha told
Nityanand Rai said enumerators shall undertake house-to-house field visits in the entire enumeration area for the collection of Census data to avoid any exclusion on any ground
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Context
The Minister of State for Home Affairs has announced that the upcoming Census 2027 will collect data on the sex of the head of the household, including a 'Transgender' category alongside 'Male' and 'Female'. This census, the 16th since Independence and the first fully digital one, will be conducted in two phases and will also include a caste enumeration for the first time.
UPSC Perspectives
Social
The inclusion of 'Transgender' as a category for the head of the household marks a significant shift in demographic data collection, moving beyond the traditional binary understanding of gender. This aligns with the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in the landmark (NALSA) judgment of 2014, which recognized transgender people as a 'third gender' and affirmed their fundamental rights under (equality), (non-discrimination), (equal opportunity in employment), and (right to life and personal liberty). By explicitly capturing data on transgender-headed households, the government can better assess the socio-economic conditions, housing status, and specific vulnerabilities of this marginalized community. This data is crucial for designing targeted welfare interventions and ensuring that policies are inclusive, fulfilling the mandate of the . The inclusion of caste enumeration is also a major development, addressing long-standing demands for accurate data to formulate policies related to affirmative action and resource allocation.
Governance
The transition to a fully digital census represents a major governance reform aimed at improving the efficiency, accuracy, and speed of data collection and processing. The introduction of a self-enumeration portal empowers citizens and provides an additional channel for participation, which can enhance coverage, especially in urban areas. However, this shift also introduces challenges related to digital literacy, access to technology, and data security. The government's emphasis on validation checks, 'Tool Tips,' and field enumerator verification highlights the importance of maintaining data integrity. The reliance on mobile apps and servers necessitates robust cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive demographic data, a critical aspect under the . The two-phase approach—Houselisting and Population Enumeration—follows the established methodology of the , ensuring a structured and comprehensive data collection process.
Polity
The decadal census is a fundamental constitutional exercise, primarily deriving its mandate from of the Constitution, which places the subject of 'Census' in the Union List (Entry 69 of the Seventh Schedule). This means the Parliament has exclusive power to make laws regarding it, operationalized through the . The data collected is vital for the functioning of the Indian polity. It forms the basis for the delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies (under and ), ensuring equitable representation based on population changes. Furthermore, census data is crucial for the (under ) in determining the devolution of taxes and grants-in-aid to states, and for the government to design, implement, and monitor social welfare schemes and development policies. The delay of the 2021 census due to the pandemic has impacted these processes, making the upcoming 2027 census highly anticipated.