On July 11, 1987, the world population reached five billion, prompting the UN to establish World Population Day in 1989. The day highlights crucial issues such as family planning, gender equality, maternal and child health, and human rights.
Now, with over eight billion globally, progress is visible, but challenges remain. India, the most populous nation, has advanced in healthcare and innovation, yet regional disparities persist. Tertiary care thrives in urban centres, but rural and marginalised communities still face major gaps in access, infrastructure, and preventive care.
World Population Day reminds us that population growth is not just a number. It demands action. Health systems must be inclusive, sustainable, and rooted in both technology and community.
In this context, Census 2027 is vital, as it is not just a count but a tool for evidence-based policymaking that guides equitable healthcare and development.
Once-in-a-decade health mapping opportunity
The Census must be viewed as a health-mapping opportunity. It can reassess healthcare access, disease burden, ageing trends, and infrastructure gaps. India’s major public health gains have often relied on Census-based data.
In 1994, India had 60% of global polio cases. The National Immunisation Programme reduced cases by 94% between 2009 and 2010, leading to the WHO declaring India “polio-free” in 2014. Similarly, the National Leprosy Eradication Programme used census-linked prevalence maps to target districts, reducing prevalence from 0.69 (2014-15) to 0.57 (2024-25).
The TB control programme used demographic data to guide diagnostics and medicine distribution, achieving a 17.7% drop in incidence and a 21.4% fall in TB deaths between 2015 and 2023.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the value of real-time, granular data — India conducted over 930 million tests and administered 2.2 billion vaccine doses by March 2023. Today, rising NCDs, mental illness, and emerging infections demand a data-driven, future-ready health strategy.
Census insights for healthcare outcomes
By offering insights into population distribution, age demographics, occupational patterns, income levels, and broader socio-economic indicators, census allows policymakers to move beyond one-size-fits-all solutions. In the decade ahead, census intelligence will be essential for designing nuanced healthcare strategies that respond to both immediate needs and long-term behavioural shifts.
Facilitating large-scale health screenings
With accurate population mapping, governments can identify underserved areas and organise mass health screening programmes. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can play a pivotal role — private labs and NGOs can support mobile diagnostic vans, while local industries can fund periodic camps through CSR initiatives. Schools and workplaces can be targeted for age-specific screenings, and digital registries based on census clusters can ensure timely follow-up and preventive care.
Community awareness for healthier lifestyles
Census data helps pinpoint clusters with high malnutrition, anaemia, or poor child growth, enabling targeted, community-led responses.
In rural areas, panchayats and self-help groups can promote kitchen gardens, grow iron- and protein-rich crops such as pulses and millets, and improve food distribution under schemes such as PDS and ICDS. They can also monitor midday meals and anganwadi services for better outreach.
In urban low-income and migrant communities, census insights uncover food insecurity and poor diets. Resident welfare associations, NGOs, and community kitchens can drive awareness around balanced nutrition, food safety, and reducing processed food intake. Using local influencers such as teachers and elder women for health promotion, often proves more effective than top-down campaigns.
Strengthening primary health infrastructure
Primary healthcare is the backbone of equitable health delivery. India has over 30,000 primary health centres (PHCs), yet many regions — especially in the north and central belt — remain underserved. Census data can help identify these gaps and guide the expansion or upgrade of PHCs into Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) under Ayushman Bharat, offering services such as chronic disease care and mental health support. States such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala have demonstrated effective, data-driven PHC deployment. Trust in neighbourhood general practitioners (GPs) is also key, particularly in urban areas, where census-linked registries can help integrate them into public health systems.
Planning for an ageing population
India’s senior citizen population, 149 million in 2022, is projected to reach 227 million by 2036, nearly 15% of the population. This shift calls for a major rethink in healthcare delivery. Census data can identify elderly-dense areas, enabling targeted measures such as mobile geriatric units, chronic illness screening, and improved access to medicines. Telemedicine and home-based care can bridge gaps in rural and semi-urban regions. States such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Himachal Pradesh with high senior population can lead with elder-care innovations. Integrating census insights with pensions, insurance, and nutrition schemes ensures more dignified, inclusive care for India’s ageing population.
Policy planner for 2026 and beyond
India spends only ~3.6% of its GDP on health — far below the 8–11% typical of developed nations, limiting productivity and well-being. Census 2027 must go beyond headcount to capture actionable health data: age, disability, sanitation, healthcare access, and household risk factors.
In rural and underserved areas, such data can reveal hidden health burdens. A digitally enabled Census, linked with health registries and local surveys, can map both where people live and what care they need.
Let the Census reflect not only how many we are, but how we live. Let it guide a health-first development model that adapts to new realities, rewards long-term effort, and lays the foundation for shared, inclusive prosperity.
(Dr. Suneeta Reddy is the managing director of Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd.; views are personal)