India's new census begins on August 17 with 40 questions, but concerns have emerged over the questionnaire. The caste question remains open-ended, similar to the 2011 caste survey, which produced millions of unclassified caste names. Experts question whether AI can reliably standardise responses with multiple spellings, languages and state-wise caste classifications. There are also concerns over the collection of Aadhaar, mobile and passport details. Critics argue that a more structured, state-wise caste database could have avoided these challenges. As the census begins, questions remain over how caste data will be classified, verified, protected and ultimately used.
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