Those unwilling to reveal their religion and caste can choose the “no caste” and “no religion” options in the caste census starting next month. But such provisions in the caste census that is being conducted after a gap of 80 years have raised questions over whether its findings will be accurate. “The enumerators will move from house to house and ask every citizen their caste and religion apart from collecting information on...

-IANS   The government on Thursday approved a proposal to conduct a survey based on caste, religion and economic conditions that will help in identifying people living below and above the poverty line and their social backgrounds. The proposed census was approved at the union cabinet meeting here chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh . The survey is expected to begin soon. Information of caste and religion will help in evaluating the widely...

The recently concluded 15th Indian National Census is an exercise of staggering magnitude — by any standard. For perspective: the decennial Census covered an area of 3.27 million sq. kms, that included 640 districts, 5,767 tehsils, 7,742 towns and over 600 villages. Primary data on 1.2 billion people would be collected by over 2 million enumerators, specially trained for the purpose. The total cost of the exercise is conservatively estimated...

NGOs fear several thousands left out ‘A mockery as enumerators insensitive' The census of the homeless in Delhi was completed on Tuesday with officials saying that they put in their best effort to count as many persons as possible, though some NGOs feared that several thousands were left out. Director of Census Operations (Delhi) Varsha Joshi said she along with other top officials had personally supervised the effort which began on the night...

Having lost faith in the government for not conferring them tribal status, the Jhodia community in Rayagada district has threatened not to share their details to the enumerators during the census. The Jhodia population stands around 50,000 who live in around 85 villages, particularly in Rayagada's Kasipur block and eke out a living by collecting forest produce and engaging themselves as daily-wage labourers. "For the past several years, we are...