India begins world’s largest population census

• India has begun the world's largest national population count, postponed from 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and logistical challenges.
• The census is expected to confirm India as the most populous nation, with an estimated population of over 1.4 billion, up from 1.21 billion in 2011.
• The count is being conducted in two phases: the first, running until September, focuses on homes and facilities, while the second, from September to next April, will gather detailed social and economic information, including religion and caste.
• More than three million government workers will be deployed for the exercise, which combines in-person surveys with a digital smartphone application.
• The collected data will underpin the distribution of government welfare programmes, potentially reshape political representation, and provide a comprehensive accounting of caste, last detailed in 1931.

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India begins world’s largest national population count. Here’s why it matters