India’s long-delayed census, set to begin today, is a reminder that even essential institutions can be paused, but not postponed indefinitely. This will be the 16th census in the country’s history and the eighth since Independence — a continuity that reflects both administrative strength and democratic necessity.

Originally due in 2021, the exercise was deferred because of the Covid-19 pandemic and related disruptions. Its resumption now is not merely procedural; it is foundational. By March 2027, governance in India will once again rest on updated, empirical data rather than extrapolations and guesswork.

In a country as vast and diverse as India, planning without reliable numbers is akin to navigating without a compass. That the census will be conducted........

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