Concerns Raised Over Privacy and Scope of 2027 Census Questions
The proposed questionnaire for the 2027 Census of India includes 40 questions covering extensive personal details such as bank account numbers, Aadhaar, voter IDs, and COVID-19 vaccination history, sparking concerns regarding privacy and data collection mandates. Critics and experts argue that collecting data beyond demographic necessities could blur the line between census operations and population registers like the NPR. Concerns have also been raised about the increased workload on enumerators, the ambiguity of terms like 'available', and potential violations of statutory confidentiality principles.
Key Points
- The 2027 Census questionnaire includes 40 questions covering new parameters like bank accounts, Aadhaar, voter IDs, and health history.
- Critics warn that mixing census enumeration with population register updates like the NPR risks compromising statutory confidentiality guarantees.
- Legal experts highlight that the Census Act does not mandate collecting data for establishing population registers, raising administrative and privacy concerns.
- The inclusion of extensive queries significantly increases the workload and logistical complexity for enumerators.
Exam Facts
- The 2027 Census questionnaire contains 40 distinct questions.
- Principle 6 of the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics emphasizes the strict confidentiality of individual information.
Read it. Retain it. Recall it.
Get spaced-repetition flashcards, daily quizzes and offline access — free on Android.