Centre to begin census in 2025, Lok Sabha seat delimitation by 2028: Sources
New Delhi: The central government is set to initiate the long-delayed national census in 2025, with the process expected to extend until 2026, according to sources. This development follows a four-year postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it will reportedly update the National Population Register (NPR) as part of the census cycle.
Following the completion of the census, the government plans to conduct delimitation of Lok Sabha seats by 2028. While several opposition parties have advocated for a caste-based census, the government has not yet committed to this, although there may be provisions for sub-sect surveys within the General and SC-ST categories, alongside the usual demographic breakdown.
The call for a caste census has gained momentum, with Congress MP Manickam Tagore criticising the government’s position. Tagore asserted that Prime Minister Modi’s stance on the issue disregards the needs of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities and challenges the representation demands.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah indicated in August that the census would be undertaken "at an appropriate time," and is likely to be conducted entirely digitally, with data collection via a mobile phone application. The upcoming census will be the first since 2011, when India’s population was recorded at over 1.21 billion, with a growth rate of 17.7 percent.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
