India to Launch Long-Awaited Census in 2025

The census, delayed due to the pandemic, will inform Lok Sabha delimitation and may include caste data.

The census, postponed from 2021 due to COVID-19, is set to begin in 2025 and conclude by 2026.
Following the census, a delimitation exercise for Lok Sabha constituencies is expected to be completed by 2028.
There is ongoing debate over whether to include a caste-based enumeration, with opposition parties advocating for it.
The upcoming census will be India's first digital census, allowing citizens to self-enumerate via an online portal.
The results will influence political representation, particularly affecting the balance between northern and southern states.