Until now, the caste census had been the main point of contention between the opposition and the government. On August 14, the Centre notified the list of questions that officials will ask during population enumeration. “Census is confidential.

“They have started the census. Census in the form of NPR. You have to provide your bank account number, mobile number and Aadhaar number.

“No political party has been informed. At least the Trinamool Congress was not informed. Nobody knows whose name will be deleted.

Is it going to be another SIR? “The reported inclusion of questions about parents’ place of birth and religion in the upcoming Census is deeply troubling. The Census must not become a backdoor for the NPR and, eventually, the NRC.

Citizenship cannot be tied to religion, and no census should be used to divide our people. The Union Government must immediately drop such divisive questions. The Census is a statistical exercise meant to produce data on population, literacy, occupation, migration, housing and, in 2027, caste.

The NPR collects detailed identity information, including names, parents' particulars, place of birth, nationality as declared, address and identity documents such as Aadhaar, voter ID and passport, as well as mobile numbers. The law says no. “Through the census, private information of people is being asked.

“Section 15 of the Census Act creates a strong statutory confidentiality barrier. Individual census records are not open to inspection and are not admissible as evidence. “Substance must prevail over form.

“I feel the State cannot do indirectly through a citizenship inquiry what Section 15 of the Census Act prohibits it from doing directly through the Census record.

e.

It sets out obligations for entities handling personal data - such as obtaining consent, limiting use to the stated purpose, and ensuring data security - and grants individuals rights over their own data, including access and correction.