New Census to Include Questions Linked to Anti-CAA Protests
Today, officials confirmed that the upcoming census will feature questions that previously sparked widespread uproar during anti-CAA demonstrations.
The inclusion of specific questions in the upcoming
The Indian government has confirmed that the upcoming national census will include questions previously associated with the 2019–2020 anti-CAA protests, which drew millions to the streets over fears of discriminatory citizenship verification (The Indian Express). The decision, finalized in recent inter-ministerial discussions, revives debates over data collection tied to identity and belonging, nearly seven years after the protests forced a pause on similar initiatives.
Officials familiar with the census framework stated that the questionnaire will ask respondents to provide details about their parents’ birthplaces, a demand that became a focal point of contention during demonstrations against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). Critics at the time argued such questions disproportionately targeted marginalized communities, particularly Muslims, by creating bureaucratic hurdles
Indian Express