The Indian Census is the largest single source of a variety
of statistical information on different characteristics of the
people of India. With a history of more than 130 years, this
reliable, time tested exercise has been bringing out a veritable
wealth of statistics every 10 years, beginning from 1872 when
the first census was conducted in India non-synchronously in
different parts. To scholars and researchers in demography, economics,
anthropology, sociology, statistics and many other disciplines,
the Indian Census has been a fascinating source of data. The
rich diversity of the people of India is truly brought out by
the decennial census which has become one of the tools to understand
and study India.
The responsibility of conducting
the decennial Census rests with the Office of the Registrar General
and Census Commissioner, India under Ministry of Home Affairs,
Government of India. It may be of historical interest that though
the population census of India is a major administrative function;
the Census Organisation was set up on an ad-hoc basis for each
Census till the 1951 Census. The Census Act was enacted in 1948
to provide for the scheme of conducting population census with
duties and responsibilities of census officers. The Government
of India decided in May 1949 to initiate steps for developing
systematic collection of statistics on the size of population,
its growth, etc., and established an organisation in the Ministry
of Home Affairs under Registrar General and ex-Officio Census
Commissioner, India. This organisation was made responsible for
generating data on population statistics including Vital Statistics
and Census. Later, this office was also entrusted with the responsibility
of implementation of Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969
in the country. In 2003 this office has been assigned the work
of a pilot project on Multipurpose National Identity Card (MNIC).
This pilot project is under implementation in 12 States and one
Union territory covering a population of 3.1 million.
The Census Commissioners from 1881 Census to 1941 Census and
thereafter Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India from
1949 onwards are shown below: