India, Feb. 2 -- The Union Budget on Sunday allocated Rs 6,000 crore for Census 2026-27, with the 16th edition of the mega population head count slated to begin on April 1 after a delay of almost six years. This allocation is nearly six times higher from Rs 1,040 crore allotted in the Revised Estimates for 2025-26.

The massive boost in funding for the Registrar General of India (RGI) comes at a time when the Centre is scheduled to conduct a nationwide census. The first phase of the exercise, originally scheduled for 2021, is now set to start in April. According to Union Budget documents, the allocation for Census, Survey and Statistics/Registrar General of India (RGI) rises dramatically to Rs 6,000 crore in 2026-27 from Rs 574.80 crore i...