Census 2011:

Census:

A systematic and modern population census, in its present form was conducted non
synchronously between 1865 and 1872 in different parts of the country.

This effort culminating in 1872 has been popularly labeled as the first population census
of India.

However, the first synchronous census in India was held in 1881. Since then, censuses
have been undertaken uninterruptedly once every ten year.

The Census of India 2011 was the fifteenth census in the continuous series as reckoned
from1872 and the sixth since independence.

Socio-Economic Caste Census:

When was the last Socio-Economic Caste Census conducted?

It was conducted in 2011.

What was unique about the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC ) – 2011?

1. It was the first paperless census in India, conducted on handheld electronic devices,
in 640 districts.
2. It was the first-ever caste-based census since 1931 census of India.
3. Data was collected on manual scavenging and Transgender count in India.

When was the first caste census conducted in India?

The first caste census was conducted in the year 1881.

Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 was not conducted under the 1948 Census of India Act.
What is the significance of this exclusion?
Disclosure of information was not mandatory. Sharing of details was voluntary for the
citizens.

How many states, UT and districts were covered in SECC 2011 census?

SECC 2011 census was conducted in all states and UT’s.

Before SECC 2011 census, which were the previous censuses used to identify households
Below Poverty Line?

Previous to Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011, there were 3 other censuses which were
used to collect data on households Below Poverty Line.

1. 1992 census
2. 1997 census
3. 2002 census

When were the findings of the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 released?

The results of SECC 2011 were released in 2015.

In which place was the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 launched?

SECC 2011 was first launched from Sankhola village of Hazemara Block in West Tripura
District.

How is the Government of India planning to use the SECC 2011 data?

Government of India is planning to use the data collected from Socio-Economic Caste
Census 2011, to implement their Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes and to expand
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhar and Mobile Governance (JAM).

How is the Rural Development Ministry planning to utilise the SECC 2011 data?

Rural Development Ministry is planning to use the SECC 2011 data in the following
programmes.

1. National Food Security Act

 2. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
3. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana

Which were the Ministries responsible for conducting Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC)
2011?

1. Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation – Urban Areas.

2. Ministry of Rural Development – Rural Areas
3. Ministry of Home Affairs: Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India –
responsible for the caste census.

Caste Census 2011 – Major Findings

1. The number of households in India – 24.49 Crore, 17.97 crores live in villages.
2. 10.74 crore households are considered deprived.
3. Approximately 30% of households in rural areas are landless and they majorly get
their income from manual labour.
4. Around 13% of families in villages live in houses of 1 room.
5. 56% of rural households lack agricultural land
6. SECC 2011 recorded a higher number of illiterates in than the numbers recorded in
2011 Census of India.
7. 60% of rural households are deprived or poor.
8. 35% of urban households are poor.
9. 1.80 Lakh households are engaged in manual scavenging for livelihood. Maharashtra
has the highest number of manual scavengers.
10. 48% of the rural population is female.
11. Kerala has the highest number of people with mental illness.

Committee formed to design Below Poverty Line (BPL) census

Dr N C Saxena committee (for rural areas) and SR Hashim committee (for urban areas) was
constituted to suggest the design of the new Below Poverty Line (BPL) census. They
recommended a three-fold classification of households.
 1. Excluded Households: these would be identified by assets owned and income and
would not be eligible for welfare benefits of the government.
2. Automatically included Households: these would be the households facing extreme
social destitution and would automatically be included for the welfare benefits of
the government.
3. Other Households: these households would be eligible for graded benefits decided
on the basis of multiple deprivation indicators.

However, both the committees used different parameters for classification of the
households in rural and urban areas.

Facts:

1. No of states/UTs 35

2. No of districts 640 (47 increased from 2001)

3. No of towns 7,933 (2772 increased from 2001)

4. No of villages 6,40,930 (2342 increased from 2001)

5. Total population 1,21,05,69,573 (68.8% urban & 31.2% rural )

6. Child Sex Ratio (0- 6 919 (Rural- 923 & Urban-905)

year)

7. Sex Ratio 940 females/1000 males

8. Density of population 382 Person/ KM2

9. Decadal population 17.64%

growth from 2001 to 2011

10. Literacy rate 74.04% of total population

11. India have total 17.5%

population of the world
12. India’s population is USA, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
now bigger than the
combined population of

13. The Union Territory of 64,429 persons

Lakshadweep is the least
populated

14. Top five literate states 1. Kerala - 94.00 %

are…
2. Lakshadweep - 91.85 %
3. Mizoram - 91.33 %
4. Goa - 88.70 %
5. Tripura - 87.22 %

15. Highest sex ratio _ Top 1. Kerala - 1084

five states
2. Puducherry - 1037
3. Tamil Nadu - 996
4. Andhra Pradesh - 993
5. Chhattisgarh - 991

16. Lowest sex ratio _ Top 1. Daman and Diu - 618

five states
2. Dadra & Nagar Haveli - 774
3. Chandigarh - 818
4. Delhi - 868
5. Andaman & Nicobar Islands - 876

17. Top five highly dense 1. Delhi - 11,320

union territories
2. Chandigarh - 9,258
3. Puducherry - 2,547
4. Daman and Diu - 2,191
5. Lakshadweep - 2,149

18. Top four highly dense 1. Bihar - 1,106

states
2. West Bengal - 1,028
 3. Kerala - 860
4. Uttar Pradesh - 829

19. Top four highly 1. Uttar Pradesh - 199,281,477 (16.49%)

populated states in India
2. Maharashtra - 112,372,972 (9.28%)
3. Bihar - 103,804,637 (8.58%)
4. West Bengal - 91,347,736 (7.55%)

20. Top five least 1. Chandigarh - 1,054,686 (0.09%)

populated union
2. Andaman and Nicobar Islands - 379,944(0.03%)
territories in India
3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli - 342,853(0.03%)
4. Daman and Diu - 242,911(0.02%)
5. Lakshadweep - 64,429 (0.01%)