The Census Act, 1948
An Act to provide for certain matters in connection with the taking of census.
Administered by. Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Home · Other Acts of 1948
Preamble
THE CENSUS ACT, 1948
ACT NO. 37 OF 19481
[3rd September, 1948.] An Act to provide for certain matters in connection with the taking of census.
WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the taking of census in 2 * * * India or any part thereof whenever necessary or desirable and to provide for certain matters in connection with the taking of such census;
It is hereby enacted as follows:--
What this Act covers
Summary of the Census Act, 1948
Key Provisions:
1. Conduct of Census
o The Central Government may declare its intention to conduct a census through notification.
o The census may include the collection of information relating to population, households, occupations, and other prescribed matters.
2. Appointment of Census Officers
o The Government may appoint:
Census Commissioner.
Census officers.
Supervisory and other staff required for conducting census operations.
o These officers are responsible for carrying out census activities.
3. Power to Require Information
o Census officers are authorised to collect information from individuals and households for census purposes.
o Persons are required to provide true information as demanded under the Act.
4. Duties of Citizens
o Individuals are required to cooperate with census officials and provide necessary information.
o Failure to provide information or providing false information may attract penalties.
5. Confidentiality of Census Information
o Information collected during the census is treated as confidential.
o Census records are not used as evidence against individuals in legal proceedings except as provided under the Act.
6. Offences and Penalties
o The Act provides penalties for:
Refusing to provide required information.
Giving false information.
Obstructing census officials in performing their duties.
Misconduct by census officers.
7. Rule-Making Power
o The Central Government is empowered to make rules regarding:
Census procedures.
Collection and recording of information.
Duties of census officers.
Forms and methods used during census operations.
Sections
Type to filter. 32 sections.
- 1Short title and extent
- 2Definitions
- 2ARule of construction respecting enactments not extending to Jammu and Kashmir
- 3Central Government to take census
- 4Appointment of census staff
- 4AStaff of every local authority to be made available for taking census
- 5Status of census authorities as public servants
- 6Discharge of duties of census-officers in certain cases
- 7Power to call upon certain persons to give assistance
- 7ARequisitioning premises, of vehicles, etc., for taking of a census
- 7BPayment of compensation
- 7CPower to obtain information
- 7DPower of entry into and inspection of premises, etc
- 7EEviction from requisitioned premises
- 7FRelease of premises from requisition
- 7GDelegation of functions of the Central Government with regard to requisitioning
- 7HPenalty for contravention of any order regarding requisitioning
- 8Asking of questions and obligation to answer
- 9Occupier to permit access and affixing of numbers
- 10Occupier or manager to fill up schedule
- 11Penalties
- 12Sanction required for prosecutions
- 13Operation of other laws not barred
- 13ACertain offences to be cognizable and triable summarily
- 14Jurisdiction
- 15Records of census not open to inspection of admissible in evidence
- 15AProtection of service interests of members of census staff
- 15BProtection of action taken in good faith
- 16Temporary suspension of other laws as to mode of taking census in municipalities
- 17Grant of statistical abstracts
- 17APower to extend the provisions of Act to other operations
- 18Power to make rules
Rules made under this Act
14 sets of Rules. India Code publishes Rules as a record and a document rather than as text, so these are indexed here and not reproduced. All Rules.
- Notification Regarding House Listing and House Count2026
- Notification Regarding Questions Asked During House Listing and Housing Census2026
- Notification Regarding Appointment Of Census Officers2025
- Notification Regarding Organizing Pre Test for House Listing and House enumeration2025
- Notification Regarding for the purpose of conducting Census of India 20272025
- Regarding House Listing For Census 20212020
- Intention of Government to Conduct Census in 2021 - S.O. 1455(E)2019
- Notification Of Census 20212019
- Census Rule 1990(with amendments)2018
- (a) Date for houselisting operations for census 2011 (b) List of questions that may be asked by Census Officer during census 20112010
- Amendment to Notification SO 517(E) dated 25.2.20102010
- Exercise of powers of Central Government by Director, Census and DM under section 7A to 7F2010
- Declaration of census of population during 20112009
- Extension of provisions of Census Act, 1948 for conduct of pre-test of census 20112009
Related Acts
- The Rehabilitation Finance Administration Act, 194825 sections
- The Central Reserve Police Force Act, 194919 sections
- The Mangrol and Manavadar (Administration of Property) Act, 194912 sections
- The Police Act, 19497 sections
- The Scheduled Securities (Hyderabad) Act, 19497 sections
- The West Godavari District (Assimilation of Laws on Federal Subjects) Act, 19494 sections
- The Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 19507 sections
- The Special Criminal Courts (Jurisdiction) Act, 19505 sections
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Every one of the 32 sections of this Act has its own page. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.