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India Launches Largest Population Count Amid Pandemic Delay

4/2/2026

Summary

Story summary

India has begun the world's largest national population count, involving over three million officials, after a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first phase, starting Wednesday, will collect data on housing and living conditions through in-person surveys and a smartphone app.
A second phase will gather detailed social and economic information, including caste and religion, starting in September 2024.
The census data will impact government resource distribution and may alter political representation.
The last census in 2011 recorded a population of 1.21 billion, now estimated to exceed 1.4 billion.

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Story summary

India has begun the world's largest national population count, involving over three million officials, after a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first phase, starting Wednesday, will collect data on housing and living conditions through in-person surveys and a smartphone app.
A second phase will gather detailed social and economic information, including caste and religion, starting in September 2024.
The census data will impact government resource distribution and may alter political representation.
The last census in 2011 recorded a population of 1.21 billion, now estimated to exceed 1.4 billion.