Logical Reasoning Questions for CLAT | QB Set 48

No population Census — in the dark without vital data

The Indian decadal Census has been delayed by more than three years now despite several concerns having been raised about the consequences of not having a Census. In fact, there is an overwhelming misconception among officials on substituting the Census with alternative ways and means of counting the population.

The Census is not limited to offer a population count. It includes a wide range of locational, familial and individual information that serves to understand the changing population dynamic in its entirety. The first and foremost limitation of avoiding a Census lies in the reliability of all large-scale surveys such as National Family Health Survey and Periodic Labour Force Survey carried out on a Census frame that is one and a half decades old.

The need to understand many changes

Further, this decade-and-a-half has been a period of potential transformation not only in population count and its composition but also on many other features relating to education, occupation, employment, health (COVID-19) and livelihoods. Considering the significance of these features, delaying the Census sounds most irresponsible.

To think of an alternative to the Census is naïve. However, there is universal concern on this count and media serve political ends more than development planning, which undoubtedly diminishes the value of the utility of Census and its relevance for course correction in many mandated strategies for human welfare.

Rendering the 2021 Census can never be an excuse given that a general election was scheduled then. The mood of all countries in this period of elections and its uncertainties is perhaps quite comparable to that of an election. Much of the current confusion is being avoided rather than addressed, as being avoided by various reasons.

However, opinions are not scarce on evaluating government schemes and programmes in terms of their coverage and consequential impact. Unfortunately, without a proper denominator, monitoring the success of any programme will be misleading.

The urgency of having a population Census and not delaying it any more has numerous grounds of reasoning, particularly a rapid demographic transition and the resultant demographic dividend. A population Census is more than necessary to reveal these changes along with familial structure, locational distribution and occupational composition. Further, in the absence of Census frame, the surveys carried out will be less reliable and representative which host the basic inputs for measuring whether schemes have achieved the measure of progress in the SDG claimed, based on these indicators, may well be undermined by their statistical inadequacies.

The world population prospects reveal unique features of population change and of demographic dividend which should hold greater significance for population giants such as India and China more than for other regions of the world. Given that the world population scenario is greatly influenced by the reality of its numbers, it is essential to balance the reality of both present estimates and projections based on non-presuming statistical values based on past decadal changes. Rendering the Census excert to be a mere population count is a misnomer that is not appropriate to answer all questions.

There has been an obsession with regard to the generation and value of population dimension that could pertain to many dimensions that need to answer India’s migration trends (not only aggregate but also its segmented count by age, sex and many other attributes), that is compromised in the absence of a Census. Approximated numbers or survey-based estimates are quite insufficient to represent changing realities.

The caste Census cry

While the urgency and the immediacy of a Census exercise does not appear urgent and seem not to be critical, the host of opinions on raising the issue of a caste Census seem most irrational and opportunist, even while trying to answer that the lack of a Census frame and everything to be rosy seems to be out of place.

The utility of the Census exercise must be understood as much as was made in its initial years of operation; the recent rush for inclusion and auditing is backed by a genuine intent of reading inclusion of different caste groups. It is largely to establish different entitlements citing a lack of representation and deprivation. However, these assessments and even perhaps a similar methodology are not appropriate in handling assessment and other indicative domains such as the educational composition of the Census and its composition with the axioms of value education and of mobility and the spread of time of education and occupation against the axis of Census that is inherently absent and the social domain.

Finally keeping the Census as priority is perhaps not as appropriate as the science information it hosts. Hence, the need to either conduct analysis further delay to get out of the illusion that surveys and other survey-based estimates are accurate and apprehension remains: has the Census been deliberately deferred or is there a convincing attempt to avoid the Census?

Question -1) Which of the following best expresses the main concern of the author regarding the delay in conducting the Indian Census?

A) The delay in the Census could lead to inaccurate data collection, affecting large-scale surveys.
B) The delay shows a lack of commitment to political transparency.
C) The delay in the Census could undermine the government’s efforts to promote economic growth.
D) The delay in conducting the Census is a result of political instability in the country.

Question -2) According to the passage, why is it naive to think of an alternative to the Census?

A) Alternatives to the Census are difficult to implement due to political opposition.
B) The Census provides a comprehensive understanding of demographic changes, which alternatives cannot match.
C) The Census is constitutionally mandated, making alternatives illegal.
D) Alternatives to the Census are costly and inefficient.

Question -3) The author mentions that a “caste Census” is being raised for political purposes. What is the implication of this statement in the context of the passage?

A) The caste Census is necessary to ensure equal representation of all castes.
B) The caste Census is being used as a tool to divert attention from the delay in the regular Census.
C) The caste Census will provide valuable data for development planning.
D) The caste Census is essential for understanding India’s demographic changes.

Question -4) What does the author imply by stating that “approximated numbers or survey-based estimates are quite insufficient to represent changing realities”?

A) Surveys are inherently unreliable and should not be conducted.
B) The Census provides exact figures, while surveys only offer rough estimates that cannot capture rapid changes.
C) Surveys should only be used in conjunction with Census data.
D) The government’s reliance on surveys over the Census is a strategic mistake.

Question -5) Why does the author argue that delaying the Census is “irresponsible”?

A) Because it prevents the government from conducting fair elections.
B) Because it results in the lack of updated data necessary for understanding various socio-economic changes.
C) Because it allows the government to manipulate data for political gain.
D) Because it delays the implementation of new government policies.

Question -6) Which of the following would the author most likely agree with?

A) The Census should be conducted only after a caste Census is completed.
B) The Census is essential for accurate development planning and policy-making.
C) Alternatives to the Census, such as surveys, can adequately substitute for it.

D) The Census delay is justified given the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.