India has officially kicked off the world’s largest census operation, marking a historic shift as the process goes digital for the very first time. Originally scheduled for 2021, the exercise was delayed by five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is India’s 16th census overall and the 8th since independence in 1947.

A significant feature of this year’s census is the inclusion of detailed and often debated ethnic and caste-based data. While the Indian government last conducted a formal census 15 years ago, data from the UN Population Fund indicates that India surpassed China in 2023 to become the world’s most populous nation, with over 1.4 billion people.

Demographic data highlights India as one of the world’s youngest nations, with an average age of 28 years. Crucially, nearly 70% of its massive population falls within the working-age bracket, positioning the country as a global workforce leader. The digital transition is expected to provide more accurate and real-time insights into the nation’s evolving socio-economic landscape.