CPI(M) raises concerns over Census 2027 questions, fears link to NRC

The CPI(M) has sounded the alarm over the Census 2027 questionnaire, warning that the collection of details such as parents’ religion and place of birth could make the exercise a precursor to the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The party argues that the Census is being expanded beyond its traditional purpose of collecting demographic data, with questions and personal identifiers that could enable the government to link Census information with citizenship, electoral and other databases.

Concerns over parents’ details

CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby has raised the concerns in a memorandum submitted to the Registrar General and Census Commissioner. Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also accused the Centre of trying to bring the National Population Register (NPR), which the party sees as the first step towards an NRC, into the Census through the back door.

“Reports have emerged that the forthcoming Census questionnaire includes information such as the place of birth and religion of parents. Through this, the Central government is trying to smuggle in the agenda of preparing the National Population Register,” Vijayan said.

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The CPI(M) has questioned why the Census should collect the religion and place of birth of both parents when such details have not been part of conventional population enumeration.

Vijayan pointed to a 2018-19 report of the Union Home Ministry which makes clear that the NRC would be prepared by filtering information from the NPR and that the NPR is the first step towards an NRC.

“The purpose behind including questions about the place of birth and religion of parents in the Census is clear as daylight,” he said, warning against any policy that links citizenship with religion.

Personal data under scrutiny

The CPI(M)'s memorandum flags a wider set of concerns. The questionnaire seeks Aadhaar, voter ID, passport and mobile numbers, as well as information about bank accounts and other personal details. It also seeks information about the respondent’s spouse.

Although some of these details are described as voluntary or qualified by “if available”, the party says there is a risk that people will feel compelled to provide them when questioned by government enumerators.

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The key concern is what happens to this information after it is collected. The questionnaire brings together details on religion, caste, disability, migration, occupation and family information with individual identifiers. The CPI(M) says this creates the possibility of linking Census data with other government databases.

The timing adds to its apprehensions. The Census is taking place alongside the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which has already involved extensive demands for documents and verification. The CPI(M) says that while the Census and electoral revision are formally separate, their simultaneous expansion raises questions about the eventual use of personal data.

Delimitation, caste and disability

The party is also looking at the Census in the context of delimitation. The population figures will form the basis for the next delimitation of Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies. The CPI(M) has warned that states which successfully implemented population control measures should not be punished through a redistribution of political representation.

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Caste enumeration has also come under criticism. The party says that, apart from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, caste will be recorded as declared by respondents without a comprehensive classification and coding system. It fears this could produce a multitude of caste and sub-caste entries and compromise the reliability of the data.

The CPI(M) has further questioned the Census framework for disability, saying that only nine categories are being recorded despite the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act recognising 21 categories.

CPI(M) seeks safeguards

The party has demanded an all-party consultation, removal of personal details such as parents’ religion and place of birth and identity and bank account numbers, and strict safeguards against linking Census data with electoral, Aadhaar, welfare or citizenship databases.

Vijayan has also questioned the silence of Kerala’s UDF government. He recalled that the previous LDF government had decided in 2019 that NPR-related activities would not be carried out in Kerala. The outgoing government had also issued an order ruling out the NPR as part of the 2027 Census.