Previous Year Question

An early Census exercise was undertaken in India in 1872, but it was not a synchronous Census conducted throughout the country at the same time. Enumeration took place in different regions at different times and did not uniformly cover the whole country.

India's first regular and synchronous Census was conducted in 1881. Thereafter, the practice of conducting a Census every ten years became established—1891, 1901, 1911, 1921 and so on. Therefore, the “first Census” and the “first regular Census” must be distinguished.

The Census of 1881 was undertaken on 17 February 1881 under Census Commissioner W. C. Plowden. It adopted a more uniform methodology across the country and systematically recorded demographic, social and economic characteristics.

For examination purposes, distinguish these three dates—

1872 → First Census, but non-synchronous
1881 → First regular/synchronous all-India Census
1921 → “Great Divide” in India's population history