Bhubaneswar: The census process has officially commenced in Odisha, with the appointment of 2012-Batch IAS officer Nikhil Pavan Kalyan as the new Director of Census Operations (DCO) and Director of Citizen Registration (DCR) for the state. His tenure is set to run until December 31, 2025, or until further orders.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) of the Union Government issued the directive, asking the Odisha government to immediately relieve Shri Kalyan from his current responsibilities so he can assume this crucial new role.
This appointment marks a significant step as Odisha prepares for the upcoming nationwide census, which is anticipated to include caste enumeration. The census is a vital exercise for comprehensive demographic data collection and citizen registration across the state.
While the census process has begun in Odisha with the appointment of a Director of Census Operations, a nationwide census in India was originally scheduled for 2021. However, it was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent reports and sources indicate that the next nationwide census in India is now expected to begin in 2025 and conclude in 2026. This marks a significant delay from its usual decennial cycle. The administrative boundaries, which need to be frozen before the census can begin, have seen multiple extensions, with the latest deadline being June 30, 2024.
It’s important to note that while there are strong indications and reports about the 2025-2026 timeline, an official, definitive announcement from the government regarding the precise dates is still awaited. There is also ongoing discussion about the inclusion of caste enumeration in this upcoming census.