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| India launches biometric census | India launches biometric census |
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| India is launching a census in which every person over the age of 15 will be photographed and fingerprinted to create a biometric national database. | India is launching a census in which every person over the age of 15 will be photographed and fingerprinted to create a biometric national database. |
| The government will then use the information to issue identity cards. | The government will then use the information to issue identity cards. |
| Officials will spend a year classifying India's population of around 1.2 billion people according to gender, religion, occupation and education. | Officials will spend a year classifying India's population of around 1.2 billion people according to gender, religion, occupation and education. |
| This is India's 15th census, an exercise that has been carried out roughly every 10 years since 1872. | This is India's 15th census, an exercise that has been carried out roughly every 10 years since 1872. |
| Over the next year, some 2.5 million census officials will visit households in more than 7,000 towns and 600,000 villages. | |
| They will first begin the process of houselisting - which records information on homes. This count will, for the first time, also attempt to gather information on the use of the internet and the availability of drinking water and toilets in households. | They will first begin the process of houselisting - which records information on homes. This count will, for the first time, also attempt to gather information on the use of the internet and the availability of drinking water and toilets in households. |
| INDIA CENSUS Population: 1,139,965,000 (2008)Fifteenth national census since 1872Some 2.5 million census officials will visit households in more than 7,000 towns and 600,000 villagesProcesses will take 11 months, consume more than 11 million tonnes of paper, and cost $1.3bn"Houselisting" begins on 1 April Physical count of residents takes place from 9 to 28 February 2011Every person above the age of 15 to be photographed, fingerprinted and given 16-digit identity number; new National Population Register Full census results in mid-2011 | INDIA CENSUS Population: 1,139,965,000 (2008)Fifteenth national census since 1872Some 2.5 million census officials will visit households in more than 7,000 towns and 600,000 villagesProcesses will take 11 months, consume more than 11 million tonnes of paper, and cost $1.3bn"Houselisting" begins on 1 April Physical count of residents takes place from 9 to 28 February 2011Every person above the age of 15 to be photographed, fingerprinted and given 16-digit identity number; new National Population Register Full census results in mid-2011 |
| The physical count of residents will take place from 9-28 February 2011. | The physical count of residents will take place from 9-28 February 2011. |
| The processes will stretch over 11 months, consume more than 11 million tonnes of paper, and cost 60bn rupees ($1.3bn; £880m). | The processes will stretch over 11 months, consume more than 11 million tonnes of paper, and cost 60bn rupees ($1.3bn; £880m). |
| India's Home Minister, P Chidambaram, described the process as "the biggest exercise... since humankind came into existence", according to the AFP news agency. | India's Home Minister, P Chidambaram, described the process as "the biggest exercise... since humankind came into existence", according to the AFP news agency. |
| The national census is the only source of primary and credible data in India and is used not just to formulate government policies but also by private companies to identify markets for their products, says the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi. | The national census is the only source of primary and credible data in India and is used not just to formulate government policies but also by private companies to identify markets for their products, says the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi. |
| The first 16-digit identity numbers are due to be issued starting in November. | The first 16-digit identity numbers are due to be issued starting in November. |
| The full census results will be released in mid-2011. | The full census results will be released in mid-2011. |
| Are you in India? Do you think the creation of a biometric national database would infringe on your civil rights? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in India? Do you think the creation of a biometric national database would infringe on your civil rights? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |