First Census in India

• Census operations in India started during the Maurya dynasty.
• Systematized during 1865-1872.
• Conducted uninterrupted since 1881.

Importance of Census

• Credible Source: Indian Census is the most credible source for information on various aspects.
• Data Coverage: Demography, Economic Activity, Literacy, Education, Housing, Urbanization, Fertility, Mortality, etc.
• Historical Significance: Census 2011 is the 15th National Census.
• Primary Data Source: Provides primary data at the village, town, and ward levels.
• Planning and Policies: Used for planning and formulating policies by Central and State Governments.
• Wide Usage: Utilized by National and International Agencies, scholars, business people, industrialists, and more.
• Parliamentary, Assembly, Panchayats, and Local Bodies: Constituencies and representation are determined based on demographic data from the Census.
• Serves as the basis for reviewing the country’s progress over the past decade.
• Essential for monitoring ongoing Government Schemes.
• Crucial for planning the future of the country.

Census of India 2011-Key Facts

1. Population facts

• Total population: 1.21 billion (2011 census)
  • Represents a 17.7% increase from the previous decade.
  • Growth of females exceeded that of males.
• Increase in Population:
  • Males: 90.97 million increase.
  • Females: 90.99 million increase.
  • Female growth rate: 18.3%
  • Male growth rate: 17.1%
• Population Growth Rate:
  • India’s population grew by 17.7% during 2001-11.
  • Contrast to 21.5% growth in the previous decade.
• Decadal Growth in Major States:
  • Highest growth recorded in Bihar (25.4%).
  • 14 states and Union Territories experienced growth above 20%.

• Rural Population (Census 2011):
  • 833.5 million individuals reside in rural areas.
  • This constitutes more than two-thirds of the total population.
• Urban Population (Census 2011):
  • 377.1 million individuals live in urban areas.
  • The urban proportion has increased from 17.3% (1951) to 31.2% (2011).
• Urban Proportion Trends:
  • Urban proportion in Empowered Action Group (EAG) states: 21.1%
  • Urban proportion in non-EAG states: 39.7%
• Highest Proportion of Urban Population:
  • NCT Delhi: 97.5%
  • Top five states with a significant share of urban population:
    • Goa: 62.2%
    • Mizoram: 52.1%
    • Tamil Nadu: 48.4%
    • Kerala: 47.7%
    • Maharashtra: 45.2%

2. Literacy Rate- Census of India 2011

• Literacy Rate in India – 2011:
  • Increased by 8% to reach 73% compared to 64.8% (2001).
• Male Literacy Rate (2011):
  • Stands at 80.9%.
  • A 5.6% increase from the previous census.
• Female Literacy Rate (2011):
  • Stands at 64.6%.
  • An increase of 10.9% from 2001.
• Highest Increase in Literacy Rate (2001-11):
  • Dadra and Nagar Haveli: 18.6 points (from 57.6% to 76.2%)
  • Bihar: 14.8 points (from 47.0% to 61.8%)
  • Tripura: 14.0 points (from 73.2% to 87.2%)
• Female Literacy Improvement:
  • Higher than males in all states and UTs, except Mizoram (same for both males and females).
• Urban-Rural Literacy Gap (Census 2011):
  • Gap steadily declining in every census.
  • In Census 2011, the gap stands at 16.3 points.
• Top 5 States and UTs with Highest Literacy Rates:
  • Kerala: 94%
  • Lakshadweep: 91.8%
  • Mizoram: 91.3%
  • Goa: 88.7%
  • Tripura: 87.2%
• Bottom 5 States and UTs in Literacy Rates:
  • Bihar: 61.8%
  • Arunachal Pradesh: 65.4%
  • Rajasthan: 66.1%
  • Jharkhand: 66.4%
  • Andhra Pradesh: 67%

3. Population Density facts

• Population Density Trend: Increased from 325 (2001) to 382 (2011) per sq km.

• States with Highest Population Density:
  • Bihar: 1106
  • Surpassed West Bengal (2001) which was in the first position.
• Union Territories with Highest Population Density (2011):
  • Delhi: 11,320
  • Followed by Chandigarh (9,258).
• States with Lowest Population Density (2011):
  • Arunachal Pradesh: 17
  • Same for both 2001 and 2011 Census.

4. Sex ratio

• Overall Sex Ratio (2011):
  • Stands at 940 females against 1000 males.
  • 10% more than the last census (933).
• State Variations:
  • Haryana: Worst male-female ratio, with 879 females per 1000 males.
  • Jammu and Kashmir: 889 females.
  • Punjab: 895 females.
  • Other worst-performing states: Uttar Pradesh (912), Bihar (918).
• Top Performing States (2011):
  • Kerala: 1,084 females.
  • Tamil Nadu: 996 females.
  • Andhra Pradesh: 993 females.
  • Chhattisgarh: 991 females.
  • Odisha: 979 females.

Worst Performing States (Sex Ratio 0-6)

• • Haryana: 834 females.
  • Punjab: 846 females.
  • Jammu and Kashmir: 862 females.
  • Rajasthan: 888 females.
  • Gujarat: 890 females.

Best Performing States (Sex Ratio 0-6)

• • • Chhattisgarh: 969 females.
    • Kerala: 964 females.
    • Assam: 962 females.
    • West Bengal: 956 females.
    • Jharkhand: 948 females.
    • Karnataka: 948 females.

5. Child Population – Census 2011

• Child Population (0-6 Years):
  • Increased by 0.4% to 164.5 million in 2011 from 163.8 million in 2001.
• Decline in Child Population:
  • In 17 states and UTs, the child population has declined in 2011 compared to 2001.
• Sex Ratio (0-6) Decline:
  • Decline of 8% in the sex ratio of the 0-6 age group.
  • In 2011, child sex ratio (0-6) is 919 females against 1000 males, compared to 927 females in 2001.
• Gender Disparities (0-6 Age Group):
  • Male child population increased, while female child population decreased during 2001-11.
  • Eight states with a child population proportion of more than 15%: Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Meghalaya.

6. Marriage Age – Census 2011

• The median marriage age for men increased from 22.6 (2001) to 23.5 (2011).
• The median marriage age for women increased from 18.2 (2001) to 19.2

7. Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) Data

• Number of Ethnic Groups:
  • 1,241 individual ethnic groups notified as SCs.
  • 705 individual ethnic groups notified as STs.
• Changes in SC/ST Lists:
  • There have been changes in the list of SCs/STs in states and UTs during the last decade.
• SC Population:
  • 201.4 million, marking a 20% increase from the last census.
• ST Population:
  • 104.3 million in 2011, indicating a 23.7% increase from 2001.

8. Religious Demographics – Census 2011

• Overall Population:
  • Hindus: 79.8% (966.3 million)
  • Muslims: 14.23% (172.2 million)
  • “No Religion” Category: 2.87 million (0.24% of India’s population)
• First-time Category:
  • The 2011 census included a category for “No Religion” for the first time.
• National Minority Status: Six religions in India have been awarded “National Minority” status-Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, and Parsis

• Decade-by-Decade Religious Composition:
  • The religious composition of India has been recorded in each decade leading up to the 2011 census.