Census in India is taken once in every ... years.

Appeared in: MNS 2015

Explanation

The Census of India is a decennial exercise, which means it is conducted once every 10 years.
The first regular census in India was held in 1881, and it has been carried out uninterruptedly at 10-year intervals since then.
This regular collection of demographic, economic, and social data is crucial for government planning, administration, and policy-making.
The last census was conducted in 2011.

Option A: A 5-year interval is not the standard frequency for the comprehensive national census in India. Some other large-scale surveys, like the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), are conducted at intervals of a few years, but this is different from the census.
Option B: A 7-year cycle has no historical or administrative precedent for any major demographic data collection in India.
Option D: A 15-year interval is too long to provide timely and relevant data for a rapidly changing population like India's. It would make planning and policy implementation ineffective.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Frequency of the Indian Census as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Census data is fundamental for public health planning. It provides the denominator for calculating vital health statistics like mortality rates, morbidity rates, and life expectancy.
Community health nurses use census data to understand the demographic profile of their service area (e.g., age, sex ratio, literacy), which helps in planning targeted health interventions, immunization drives, and maternal and child health programs.
What if? If the census were conducted every 5 years instead of 10, public health programs could be adjusted more rapidly to demographic shifts, but the cost and logistical complexity would increase significantly.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key term in the question: 'Census in India'.
This is a factual recall question from general knowledge and community health nursing (demography).
Recall the standard frequency for this national exercise.
The term 'decennial' is often associated with the census, which means occurring every 10 years.
Evaluate the given options: 5, 7, 10, and 15 years.
Select the option that matches the known frequency of the Indian Census.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart B (pp 233-449 of 464) p. 158-160

E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health Nursing for BSc Nursing Students Part 2 — Subpart B (pp 276-535 of 550) p. 28-31

Practise the full MNS 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.