The Congress has once again called out the Centre over what it described as its silence on census. The last census was to be completed in 2021.

Taking to X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “Finally, today in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Govt accepted and acknowledged that the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana is based on the National Food Security Act, 2013.”

He added, “But, the Government remains silent on why the Census 2021 has still not been conducted!”

Earlier too, Ramesh had demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi inform the country when the census will be conducted. He also said data should be provided on the population of communities categorised as OBCs to give “true meaning” to social justice enshrined in the Constitution.

A comprehensive census essential for socioeconomic development is carried out by the Union government every 10 years, the Congress leader said.

“But Mr Modi didn’t get it done. One immediate consequence of not having census 2021 conducted is that at least 14 crore Indians are being deprived of benefits under the National Food Security Act, 2013, repackaged as PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana,” he had said.

The delay in updating census data has stalled at least 15 crucial datasets related to health, demography, and the economy. This shortfall has also compromised the quality of surveys conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), the Deccan Herald reported.

Besides impacting food security, the lack of current census data affects the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The Union government relies on this data to allocate funds to states based on the number of households and labourers in the state.

State governments are also finding it difficult to distribute funds for schemes aimed at the development of SC/ST communities, old-age pensions, and housing for the poor, due to outdated figures.