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India Launches World's Largest Census; Women's Parliamentary Quota Bill Fails
India has begun the first phase of its national census, the largest ever undertaken globally, involving more than three million officials updating data last collected in 2011. Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government failed to pass a constitutional amendment to boost women's representation in parliament — the first parliamentary defeat for a Modi-proposed constitutional amendment in 12 years — with opposition accusing the government of using quotas to redraw electoral boundaries.
Key Facts
- 1India has launched the first phase of what is set to be the world's largest census, involving more than three million officials
- 2The last census was conducted in 2011 when India's population was 1.21 billion; it is now estimated at 1.4 billion
- 3The census could pave the way for major changes to welfare programs and electoral boundaries
- 4India's parliament rejected a bill that would have reserved 33% of seats for women and significantly expanded the total number of parliamentary seats
- 5It was the first time in 12 years that a constitutional amendment proposed by Modi's government was defeated
- 6Opposition accused the government of using the quota proposal to manipulate parliamentary composition in its own favour
Coverage
Reported by France24, The Guardian, and DW, with major significance for global demographic data, gender equity, and Indian domestic policy.