The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is all set to conduct the 12th National Census 2021 from today. Authorities have completed all preparations for the census which will last till November 25.

As many as 40,000 enumerators and 8,016 superintendents have been given training for the census, which is held every 10 years. The CBS has also claimed it has built up mechanisms from the federal level down to the ward level.

A total of 87 district census offices have been set up in all 77 districts, with an additional 10 offices in the most populated districts. Similarly, 349 local-level census offices have been established in the local governments.

The census includes 80 questionnaires, with 25 questions related to listing of houses which have already been conducted about a month ago. So, each household will be asked a maximum of 55 questions which is projected to take 20 to 25 minutes, as per the CBS.

The census will cover four major fields, including social, economic, geological, and physical infrastructure, while people’s headcount will be done on the basis of the principle of inclusion in various subjects such as ethnicity, language, religion, sex, social class, geology, disability, age, income and gender or gender minorities.

The government has added four new categories regarding the census of people with disability – haemophilia, autism, complete blindness, and deafness.

Two more ethnicities – Rana Tharu and Bhumihar – have been added to the census this time around with a total of 127 ethnic groups. Similarly, people of gender minorities group are also being counted as ‘third gender’ in this census for the first time.

However, the CBS has said that population counting in the Kalapani, Lipulek and Limpiyadhura areas of Darchula district will be based on estimates if India does not give permission to conduct the census there.

According to the Director-General of CBS, Nevin Lal Shrestha, coordination with India is being held through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct the census in the presence of enumerators in the area. However, if India does not give permission, it should be done on the basis of estimates.

“If India allows us, we can do it physically. In the said areas, the projections based on other sources are estimated to have a population of 700 to 800. We can also estimate using satellite for counting of houses,” he said.

The national census is taken as a lifeline to formulate national-level planning, development projects and any other policies in any given field for the government and other stakeholders.

The preliminary results of the National Census, including the total population of the country, will be made public in three months.