India, Aug. 27 -- In 2021, for the first time since the introduction of the decennial census, India missed conducting it. The stated reason was the Covid-19 pandemic. Even after the pandemic passed, however, the census was not conducted, leading to concerns over the nature and quality of the data on which administrative policies were being framed and implemented. Earlier this year, however, the long-delayed census process was finally initiated, and data collection has since commenced.

Initially, critics pointed out that the census's digital-based approach presents problems of access and potential manipulation of data. The recent release of the census forms has, however, given rise to fresh concerns.

The census questionnaire is far more ...