After a four-year delay, the census is expected to begin next year and will likely end a year later, sources said Monday. The last census took place in 2011, and the exercise was supposed to take place in 2021 but was delayed due to Covid.

-19 pandemic.

“The census may start next year. The census will start from 2025 and continue till 2026,” sources told ABP News.

According to sources privy to the development, the census cycle will also change now. Until now, the exercise which took place at the beginning of each decade will now take place in the middle of the decade. “The census, which takes place every 10 years, took place at the beginning of the decade, like in 2001, 2011. Today, after 2025, it will take place in 2035, 2045, 2055 and so on,” they said. they indicated.

On the delimitation of Lok Sabha seats, sources said it would begin once the census is completed. The delimitation process is expected to be completed by 2028, they said.

Furthermore, although the religion and social class of the population would be taken into account in the census, the government has not yet decided whether a caste census would be undertaken, as demanded by many opposition parties. However, according to sources, this time people might also be asked which sect they follow.

“Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are counted in the census. But this time, people can also be asked which sect they follow. For example, in Karnataka, Lingayats who fall under the general category consider themselves a separate sect. Similarly , there are different sects like Valmiki and Ravidasi, among others, in the Scheduled Castes. For this reason, the government is considering calling for a census on the basis of sect as well as religion and social class,” they said. declared.

Meanwhile, the central deputation of Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, who is currently serving as Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, has been extended till August 2026, hinting at the start of the much-delayed census process , will be launched soon.