NEW DELHI: The government may explore the option of deferring or advising states to defer the April 1 launch of Census 2021 and National Population Register (NPR) update — scheduled to kick off in central Delhi, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and Meghalaya on this date — in view of the situation arising out of coronavirus.
Such an indication comes even as states have begun writing to the Centre seeking a review of the notified Census timeline. In a letter to the PM on Friday, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik said all efforts of the state machinery were directed towards containment of Covid-19 and mobilisation for Census and concerned activities posed a risk for field functionaries and the people. “I would rather suggest to postpone the scheduled Census and related activities,” he said.
While home ministry officials were tight-lipped on whether Census/N
