Overview
The HLCDC has begun sending questionnaires to all State Chief Secretaries. The aim is to capture changes in population and settlements since the Census 2027. The data will help compare the 2011 baseline with the present scenario and guide the upcoming enumeration.
Key Developments
- Questionnaires will collect details of new settlements, migration patterns and population growth post‑2011.
- The committee will request the Election Commission of India to share names removed in the SIR and reasons for deletion, to estimate illegal migrants.
- The first phase of the census, the HLO, is underway in several states and will finish on 30 September 2026.
- Final Population Enumeration is slated for 1 March 2027.
- The panel will set up an e‑mail address for public feedback and will meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to coordinate visits to states and ministries.
Important Facts
• The HLCDC is chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar (retd.).
• Members include Census Commissioner Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, retired IAS officer Durga Shanker Mishra, retired IPS officer Balaji Srivastava and economist Shamika Ravi.
• The committee was constituted on 26 May 2026 following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's “High‑powered Demography Mission” announced on 15 August 2025.
• The SIR has already removed about 6.5 crore names (≈11 % of the electorate) from rolls that originally counted 58.88 crore voters.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the HLCDC’s work is vital for GS 2 (Polity) as it deals with inter‑ministerial coordination, legal frameworks for immigration, and electoral roll management. For GS 3 (Economy & Demography), the census data drive policy planning, allocation of funds, and representation in Parliament. The focus on illegal migration links to security, social welfare and international relations, topics covered in GS 4 (Ethics) and GS 2.
Way Forward
The committee will compile state‑level responses, analyse SIR exclusions, and submit recommendations for a permanent system to identify, detain and deport illegal migrants. Prompt action is expected from the Home Ministry to integrate these findings into the upcoming Census 2027 schedule. Aspirants should monitor how these demographic insights influence future policy debates on citizenship, resource distribution and electoral reforms.