Comparing Census 2001 and Census 2011

Following are the differences between the census 2001 and census 2011: -

In context with census 2011 following are the things which are done for the first time.

Type	Census 2001	Census 2011
States/UTs	35	35
Districts	593	640
Tehsils	5463	5767
Towns	5161	7742
Villages	593732	608786
Households	194 Million	240 Million
EBs	19.82 lakhs	23.56 lakhs
Population	1.03 Billion	1.20 Billion

 Data collection for creation of the first ever computerized National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC), along with house listing and housing census would be taken up April 26 this year.

 For the first time, the United Nations Children's Fund ( Unicef) and United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP) would also help to create master trainers, who would educate the enumerators and supervisors to conducted the massive census operation.

 Counting of disabled that was in an immature phase in 2001 census was adopted in full swing in 2011 census.

 The following information were also included in the census 2011:-

o Radio/Transistor

o Television

o Computer/Laptop

o Telephone/Mobile phone

o Bicycle

o Scooter/Motor Cycle/Moped

o Car/Jeep/Van

o Availing Banking Services

 The enumerators for the first time will collect information like ownership of mobile phones, computers, internet, having treated or untreated drinking water facility and usage of banking services.

 Preparation of National Population Register.

Civil Registration

Civil registration is the system by which a government records the vital events of its citizens and residents. The resulting repository or database is called civil registry or population registry. The primary purpose of civil registration is to create legal documents that are used to establish and protect the civil rights of individuals. A secondary purpose is to create a data source for the compilation of vital statistics. In most countries, there is a legal requirement to notify the relevant authority of any life event which affects the registry.

The United Nations defines civil registration as "the continuous, permanent, compulsory and universal recording of the occurrence and characteristics of vital events pertaining to the population as provided through decree or regulation in accordance with the legal requirements of a country. Civil registration is carried out primarily for the purpose of establishing the legal documents provided by the law. These records are also a main source of vital statistics. Complete coverage, accuracy and timeliness of civil registration are essential for quality vital statistics.

Vital events that are typically recorded include live birth, death, fetal death, marriage, divorce, and annulment of marriage, judicial separation of marriage, adoption, legitimization and recognition. Additionally, in some countries, immigration, emigration, and any change of residence may require notification. Among the legal documents that are derived from civil registration are certificates, death certificates, and marriage certificates.

CIVIL REGISTRATION SYSTEMIN INDIA

Registration of births and deaths in India is being done under the legal provisions of the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969. The Registrar General, India, appointed by the Central Government under the Act, coordinates and unifies the activities of the State Governments in respect of registration of births and deaths. The Chief Registrar of Births & Deaths, appointed by the State Government in each state, is responsible for execution of various provisions of the Act and the State Rules made there under throughout the state. Actual work of registration is being done by the local Registrars of Births and Deaths appointed under the Act. The Chief Registrars are also responsible for compilation and preparation of an annual statistical report based on registration data for their state. The Office of the Registrar General, India, prepares National Report annually based on States' Reports.

Salient Features of the RBD Act, 1969

The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, provides for:

 Compulsory registration of births and deaths at the place of their occurrence with the local Registrar under whose jurisdiction it had occurred.

 Uniformity and comparability, leaving enough scope to the states to develop an efficient system of registration suitable to them depending upon their administrative set up.

 Responsibility on certain persons/establishments to report the events for registration within the prescribed period of 21 days, most important being the domiciliary events to be reported by the head of the household and the institutional events to be reported by the in charge of the institution.

 Duties of certain persons to notify births or deaths: The Act casts responsibility on midwives or any medical attendant at birth or death, the keeper or owner of a place set apart for disposal of dead bodies has to notify every birth or death at which he or she was present to the Registrar.

 Delayed Registration of events: Births and deaths not reported within the prescribed period of 21 days but within 30 days of occurrence can be registered after payment of a late fee. After 30 days but within one year of occurrence, an event can be registered only on written permission from the prescribed officer (usually Tahsildars/ Commissioners/ Chief Officers), on production of an affidavit and payment of late fee. After one year of occurrence, an event can be registered only on an order of First Class Magistrate and on payment of late fee.

 Penalties on persons/establishments not reporting the events and the registration functionary who neglects or refuses, without reasonable cause to register.

 Issue of certificates; As soon as the registration is completed a certificate is to be issued on free of cost to the informant. The Section 17 of the Act provides for giving certified extracts from the birth and death register on payment of prescribed fee. Such extracts are admissible under the Indian Evidence Act as evidence of the birth or death the entry relates to. Such extracts will not include the cause of death entered in the register.

 Entry of the name of the child later on, but within the prescribed period if the birth was registered without name of the child. Within 12 months of registration of a birth, name of the child can be got entered without any fee.

 After 12 months but within 15 years of registration, it can be entered after payment of a prescribed fee.

 Correction or cancellation of entries made erroneously, fraudulently or improperly in the birth and death registers. If it is proved to the satisfaction of the Registrar that any entry of a birth or death in any register kept by him is erroneous, he may, subject to the rules correct the error or cancel the entry.

Shashikant Nishant Sharma

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