Odisha Gears Up for Caste-Based Census Pre-Test Starting November 15
Bhubaneswar: The Directorate of Census Operations in Odisha has initiated groundwork for a caste-based census, with a pre-test phase scheduled between November 15 and November 30, 2025.
This marks a significant step toward implementing a comprehensive national population count that includes caste enumeration.
Director Nikhil Pawan Kalyan confirmed that the pre-test will be conducted in four districts—Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Mayurbhanj, and Nabarangpur—to evaluate data collection tools, digital systems, and field methodology.
The exercise will help fine-tune procedures ahead of the full-scale census rollout.
The census will be conducted in two phases: the first will focus on house listing and housing data, while the second will cover population enumeration.
Coordination with the state government is underway to identify and train enumerators and supervisors, with selection beginning October 21.
Officials emphasised that the inclusion of caste data will offer valuable insights into Odisha’s social composition, aiding in policy-making, welfare planning, and inclusive development.
The pre-test findings will guide improvements to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and public participation in the main census.
