New Delhi, June 5 (UNI) Attributing the delay in conducting Census 2021 to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday said the concerns of the southern states regarding the delimitation process will be taken care of with all concerned at an appropriate time.

The Ministry said on X that Home Minister Amit Shah had repeatedly clarified that concerns of southern states regarding the delimitation exercise will be taken care of and discussed with all concerned at an appropriate time.

"Census 2021 was to be conducted and all preparations for the Census were completed. However, due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic across the country, the Census work was postponed. The aftershock of Covid-19 continued for quite some time," the MHA said.

The Ministry said that a key challenge was the involvement of approximately 30 lakh enumerators, most of whom are primary school teachers. Conducting the Census immediately after Covid could have severely disrupted primary education.

"COVID disrupted all sectors, including education. Around 30 lakh enumerators are needed for the Census. Enumerators, who are primary school teachers, are key persons for conducting Census. Conducting the Census after Covid could have disrupted primary education immensely," the MHA post said.

"Countries which conducted Census immediately after COVID-19 faced issues with the quality and coverage of Census data. The Government has decided to commence the process of census forthwith, which will be completed on March 1, 2027, the reference date for Census," it said.

The Ministry reiterated that budgetary constraints have never been a hurdle for conducting the Census, as adequate funding is consistently ensured by the government.

The MHA said, "Budget has never been a constraint for Census as fund is always ensured by the Govt. Home Minister Amit Shah has clarified on many occasions that in the delimitation exercise, concerns of southern states will be taken care of and discussed with all concerned at an appropriate time".

Notably, the government on Wednesday announced that Population Census-2027 will be conducted in two phases along with enumeration of castes and the reference date will be March 1, 2027. UNI RBE SSP