The questions and the concepts used in different censuses enable us to evaluate the trends in the Indian Censuses. Significant changes have been made in the census questionnaires right from 1872 to 1971 census. Based on the information collected, a number of tables have been generated.
Census House
The term 'house' in India covers the greatest diversity of dwellings. 'House' is defined 'as a building or part of a building having a separate main entrance from the road or common courtyard or stair case etc. Used or recognized as a separate unit. It may be inhabited or vacant. It may be used for a residential or non-residential purpose or both'. The
The term 'house' in India covers the greatest diversity of dwellings. 'House' is defined 'as a building or part of a building having a separate main entrance from the road or common courtyard or stair case etc. Used or recognized as a separate unit. It may be inhabited or vacant. It may be used for a residential or non-residential purpose or both'. The
Family or Household
A household is defined as 'a group of persons who commonly live together and would take their meals from a common kitchen unless the exigencies of work prevented any of them from doing so'.
A household is defined as 'a group of persons who commonly live together and would take their meals from a common kitchen unless the exigencies of work prevented any of them from doing so'.
Age
The age of the person in total completed years last birthday is recorded in Census.
The age of the person in total completed years last birthday is recorded in Census.
Marital Status
The marital status of a person is recorded under the following heads:-
(1) Never married
(2) Married
(3) Widowed
(4) Separated or Divorced.
The marital status of a person is recorded under the following heads:-
(1) Never married
(2) Married
(3) Widowed
(4) Separated or Divorced.
Place of Birth
From 1881 to 2001 the question on the Place of Birth was recorded with a view to study the migration of the population. The name of the district where the person was born was recorded. In case the person was not born in the State of Enumeration, the Province of birth was also recorded. In 1961 two questions on migration in addition to the Place of Birth were also put to the individuals namely:-
(i) Whether born in Village or Town; and
(ii) Duration of Residence if born elsewhere.
In all censuses from 1881 to 2001, if a person was born outside the countryion, the name of the country was also recorded. The duration of residence of a person in the place of enumeration had been asked in the 1961 census to improve the migration statistics as compared to the previous censuses. But still, there are certain implications of using such data for making a detailed inquiry on migration. From these questions on migration, no information can be had regarding the multiple migrations of the individuals. The migration statistics collected in the 1961 census are useful only if the individual has moved straight from his place of birth to the place of enumeration. But in actual practice the migration may be more than once. Also, even if a person had been born at the place of enumeration, he/she might have been migrating from place to place and finally settled at the place of enumeration, his omission as migrant is not justified. For making any thorough investigation regarding the migration of population, it is essential to probe into the reasons of migration.
In 1971 census 'Birth place' was again recorded in respect of each person. If the person was born outside the village or town of enumeration it was ascertained whether the place was rural or urban. If the place of birth was outside the district, the name of the district; if born outside the State the name of the State/Union Territory and if born outside the Indian Union the name of the Country was also recorded. These details have been continued in all the subsequent censuses. However, in 1971 and all the subsequent censuses, the question on duration of residence at place of enumeration was asked if a person was a migrant by ‘place of last residence’ rather than by ‘place of birth’.
From 1881 to 2001 the question on the Place of Birth was recorded with a view to study the migration of the population. The name of the district where the person was born was recorded. In case the person was not born in the State of Enumeration, the Province of birth was also recorded. In 1961 two questions on migration in addition to the Place of Birth were also put to the individuals namely:-
(i) Whether born in Village or Town; and
(ii) Duration of Residence if born elsewhere.
In all censuses from 1881 to 2001, if a person was born outside the countryion, the name of the country was also recorded. The duration of residence of a person in the place of enumeration had been asked in the 1961 census to improve the migration statistics as compared to the previous censuses. But still, there are certain implications of using such data for making a detailed inquiry on migration. From these questions on migration, no information can be had regarding the multiple migrations of the individuals. The migration statistics collected in the 1961 census are useful only if the individual has moved straight from his place of birth to the place of enumeration. But in actual practice the migration may be more than once. Also, even if a person had been born at the place of enumeration, he/she might have been migrating from place to place and finally settled at the place of enumeration, his omission as migrant is not justified. For making any thorough investigation regarding the migration of population, it is essential to probe into the reasons of migration.
In 1971 census 'Birth place' was again recorded in respect of each person. If the person was born outside the village or town of enumeration it was ascertained whether the place was rural or urban. If the place of birth was outside the district, the name of the district; if born outside the State the name of the State/Union Territory and if born outside the Indian Union the name of the Country was also recorded. These details have been continued in all the subsequent censuses. However, in 1971 and all the subsequent censuses, the question on duration of residence at place of enumeration was asked if a person was a migrant by ‘place of last residence’ rather than by ‘place of birth’.
Place of last residence
In 1971, for the first time the migration particulars with reference to the place of last residence were also collected which yielded valuable and realistic data on internal migration. The information was recorded under the following heads:
(a) Place of last residence
(b) Rural/Urban
(c) District
(d) State/Country
(e) Duration of residence if last resided elsewhere
While this still does not cover all the migration details of an individual, this is considered more realistic and gives the details of latest movement.
In 1971, for the first time the migration particulars with reference to the place of last residence were also collected which yielded valuable and realistic data on internal migration. The information was recorded under the following heads:
(a) Place of last residence
(b) Rural/Urban
(c) District
(d) State/Country
(e) Duration of residence if last resided elsewhere
While this still does not cover all the migration details of an individual, this is considered more realistic and gives the details of latest movement.
Rural and Urban areas
Village or Town is recognized as the basic area of habitation in all censuses throughout the world and the data are generally presented for the rural and urban areas separately. The basic unit for rural areas is the revenue village. The revenue village has a definite surveyed boundary and each village is a separate administrative unit, usually with an administrative boundary. The revenue village may comprise of several hamlets, but the entire village is one unit for presentation of data. In unsurveyed villages within forests, each habitation area with locally recognised boundaries within the forest range officer’s beat is treated as one unit. This is termed as forest village distinct from revenue village.
The definition of urban areas is as follows.
(a) All places with a Municipality, Corporation or Cantonment or Notified Town Area
(b) All other places which satisfied the following criteria:
Village or Town is recognized as the basic area of habitation in all censuses throughout the world and the data are generally presented for the rural and urban areas separately. The basic unit for rural areas is the revenue village. The revenue village has a definite surveyed boundary and each village is a separate administrative unit, usually with an administrative boundary. The revenue village may comprise of several hamlets, but the entire village is one unit for presentation of data. In unsurveyed villages within forests, each habitation area with locally recognised boundaries within the forest range officer’s beat is treated as one unit. This is termed as forest village distinct from revenue village.
The definition of urban areas is as follows.
(a) All places with a Municipality, Corporation or Cantonment or Notified Town Area
(b) All other places which satisfied the following criteria:
(i) A minimum population of 5,000.
(ii) At least 75% of the male working population was working in non-agricultural activity.
(iii) A density of population of at least 400 sq. Km. (i.e. 1000 per sq. Mile)
The Director of Census of each State/Union Territory was, however, given some discretion to include some places that had other distinct urban characteristics as Urban , in consultation with the State Govt., and to exclude undeserving cases
There is a slight difference in the definition of agricultural activities in 1961,1971 and later censuses. In 1961 and 1971 censuses, males working in activities such as plantation, forestry , fishing, logging etc were treated as workers non agricultural activities and therefore contributed to the 75 % criteria. From 1981 onwards, these activities were treated on par with cultivation and agriculture for the purpose of this criteria.
For the purposes of presentation of certain tables, urban areas with a population 100000 were termed as cities.
(ii) At least 75% of the male working population was working in non-agricultural activity.
(iii) A density of population of at least 400 sq. Km. (i.e. 1000 per sq. Mile)
The Director of Census of each State/Union Territory was, however, given some discretion to include some places that had other distinct urban characteristics as Urban , in consultation with the State Govt., and to exclude undeserving cases
There is a slight difference in the definition of agricultural activities in 1961,1971 and later censuses. In 1961 and 1971 censuses, males working in activities such as plantation, forestry , fishing, logging etc were treated as workers non agricultural activities and therefore contributed to the 75 % criteria. From 1981 onwards, these activities were treated on par with cultivation and agriculture for the purpose of this criteria.
For the purposes of presentation of certain tables, urban areas with a population 100000 were termed as cities.
Urban agglomeration
Very often large railway colonies, university campuses, port areas, military camps etc come up outside the statutory limits of the city or town but adjoining to it. Such areas may not by themselves qualify to be treated as towns but if they form a continuous spread with the town, they are out growths (OG) of the town and deserve to be treated as urban. Such towns, together with their out growths have been treated as one urban unit and called ‘Urban agglomeration’. An urban agglomeration may constitute;
a) A city with continuous outgrowth,(the part of outgrowth being outside the statutory limits but falling within the boundaries of adjoining village or villages);
b) One town with similar outgrowth or two or more adjoining towns with their outgrowths as in (a); or
c) A city and one or more adjoining towns with their outgrowths all of which form a continuous spread.
Very often large railway colonies, university campuses, port areas, military camps etc come up outside the statutory limits of the city or town but adjoining to it. Such areas may not by themselves qualify to be treated as towns but if they form a continuous spread with the town, they are out growths (OG) of the town and deserve to be treated as urban. Such towns, together with their out growths have been treated as one urban unit and called ‘Urban agglomeration’. An urban agglomeration may constitute;
a) A city with continuous outgrowth,(the part of outgrowth being outside the statutory limits but falling within the boundaries of adjoining village or villages);
b) One town with similar outgrowth or two or more adjoining towns with their outgrowths as in (a); or
c) A city and one or more adjoining towns with their outgrowths all of which form a continuous spread.
Standard Urban areas
Standard Urban Area (SUA) is new concept that had been developed for the 1971 Census for the tabulation of certain urban data. The idea is that it should be possible to provide comparable data for a definite area of urbanisation continuously for three decades which would give a meaningful picture. This replaced the concepts of Town Group that was in vogue at the 1961 Census. The town group was made up of independent urban units not necessarily contiguous to one another but was to some extent inter-dependent. It was thought that if data for this Standard Area were to be made available in the next two or three successive censuses it is likely to yield much more meaningful picture to study urbanisation around large urban nuclei.
The essential of a Standard Urban Area are :
(i) it should have a core town of a minimum population size of 50,000,
(ii) the contiguous areas made up of other urban as well as rural administrative units should have close mutual socio- economic links with the core town and
(iii) the probabilities are that this entire area will get fully urbanized in a period of two to three decades.
Standard Urban Area (SUA) is new concept that had been developed for the 1971 Census for the tabulation of certain urban data. The idea is that it should be possible to provide comparable data for a definite area of urbanisation continuously for three decades which would give a meaningful picture. This replaced the concepts of Town Group that was in vogue at the 1961 Census. The town group was made up of independent urban units not necessarily contiguous to one another but was to some extent inter-dependent. It was thought that if data for this Standard Area were to be made available in the next two or three successive censuses it is likely to yield much more meaningful picture to study urbanisation around large urban nuclei.
The essential of a Standard Urban Area are :
(i) it should have a core town of a minimum population size of 50,000,
(ii) the contiguous areas made up of other urban as well as rural administrative units should have close mutual socio- economic links with the core town and
(iii) the probabilities are that this entire area will get fully urbanized in a period of two to three decades.
Religion
In 1971 the religion of each individual as returned by him was recorded.
In the 1981 census additionally for the first time presented tables on distribution of households and population by the religion of the head of the household.
In 1971 the religion of each individual as returned by him was recorded.
In the 1981 census additionally for the first time presented tables on distribution of households and population by the religion of the head of the household.
Nationality
The question on 'Nationality' was asked in 1872 census and after that it appeared only in 1951 and 1961 Censuses. The major criterion of nationality was ethnic origin and not citizenship. In 1971 the question was dropped. It has not been canvassed in any subsequent censuses.
The question on 'Nationality' was asked in 1872 census and after that it appeared only in 1951 and 1961 Censuses. The major criterion of nationality was ethnic origin and not citizenship. In 1971 the question was dropped. It has not been canvassed in any subsequent censuses.
Caste, Tribe or Race
The information is collected only for each Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe.
The information is collected only for each Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe.
Literacy
The definition of literacy is 'both ability to read and write in any language. Children of ages 6 years and below are treated as illiterates.
The definition of literacy is 'both ability to read and write in any language. Children of ages 6 years and below are treated as illiterates.
Mother-tongue
Mother-tongue is defined as "language spoken in childhood by the person's mother to the person. If the mother died in infancy the language mainly spoken in the person's home in childhood was recorded as the Mother-tongue'.
Mother-tongue is defined as "language spoken in childhood by the person's mother to the person. If the mother died in infancy the language mainly spoken in the person's home in childhood was recorded as the Mother-tongue'.
Other languages
In 2001 census data was collected on two other languages known.
In 2001 census data was collected on two other languages known.
