Centre to Begin Census in 2025, Lok Sabha Delimitation by 2028
The Indian government is set to begin the long-delayed population census in 2025, with completion expected by 2026.
This major national exercise will be followed by a nationwide delimitation process for Lok Sabha constituencies, scheduled to be concluded by 2028. The move aims to address pending governance issues, including the redrawing of parliamentary boundaries based on population distribution.
Census Delayed Due to COVID-19
Originally slated for 2021, the census was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the disruption of numerous governmental operations. The last decennial census was conducted in 2011, with India’s population at that time recorded at 121.1 crore. In April 2023, the United Nations projected that India’s population had surpassed China, making it the most populous country with an estimated 142 crore people.
Delimitation to Follow Census Completion
Following the completion of the 2025 census, the government will begin a delimitation process to adjust the boundaries of Lok Sabha constituencies, aligning representation with the updated population data. The delimitation exercise is expected to be completed by 2028 and could result in an increase in parliamentary seats for some states.
This upcoming census is expected to provide essential data for national planning, while also addressing long-standing political issues related to representation. The government has ruled out a caste census and will focus on a national census that will influence future governance and development strategies.
