The census is conducted every 10 years and provides valuable demographic data for central and state governments. It is the primary source of data at the village and town level on population characteristics, economic activity, education, housing, and other socio-cultural factors. The census data is used for reviewing development progress, monitoring government schemes, and planning for the future. It also forms the basis for reserving constituencies in parliamentary and local body elections. The National Population Register will create an identity database of usual residents to help target government benefits and services, and strengthen security. Both exercises are statutory and involve systematically counting and collecting information about the population.

1. What is census? How is it useful?
The census is the most credible source of information on
demography (population characteristics), economic
activity, literacy and education, housing and household
amenities, urbanisation, fertility and mortality,
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, language,
religion, migration, disability and many other socio-
cultural and demographic data since 1872.

2. Census 2011 will be the 15th national census
of the country. This is the only source of
primary data at village, town and ward level.
It provides valuable information for planning
and formulation of polices for central and
state governments and is widely used by
national and international agencies, scholars,
business people, industrialists, and many
more.

3. The reservation of constituencies --
parliamentary/assembly/panchayats and other
local bodies is also done on the basis of the
demographic data thrown up by the census. The
census is the basis for reviewing the country's
progress in the past decade, monitoring the on-
going schemes of the government and most
importantly, plan for the future.
That is why the slogan of Census 2011 is 'Our
Census, Our Future'.

4. What is the National Population
Register? What is its use?
The NPR would be a register of usual
residents of the country. The NPR will be a
comprehensive identity database that would
help in better targeting of the benefits and
services under the government
schemes/programmes, improve planning and
help strengthen security of the country. This is
being done for the first time in the country.

5. How will both these exercises be
conducted?
The census is a statutory exercise
conducted under the provisions of the
Census Act 1945. The NPR is being created
under the provisions of the Citizenship Act
and Rules.
A census is the numbering or registration
of people generally for the purpose of
taxation or military recruitment.

6. A census is the procedure of systematically
counting the members of a given population. In
modern times the counting process has been
expanded to include the acquisition and
counting of other information about a
population, including such things as size of
home, number of people in the family, level of
education, number of televisions in the home,
etc., etc.
janganana
A numbering of the people, and valuation of their
estate, for the purpose of imposing taxes, etc.;
usually made once in five years.