The first synchronous census in India was held in 1881 and since then, the data gets revised with new census operations conducted every decade. Delayed due to the pandemic, census operations are likely to begin in 2021 after the Centre’s nod. In a bid to facilitate better data management of census operations, a ‘National Data Center- Disaster Recovery Site’ is being inaugurated at UP’s Census Directorate in Lucknow today.
National Data Centre in Lucknow is UP’s privilege
Left to right: Mr. Vivek Joshi welcomed by Mr. N. S. Pandey (Director Census, UP)
In 1981, a state-level Data Centre was housed in the UP Census Directorate office which was provided small upgrades in 1991. However, for better management of census operations, India’s third National Data Centre in being inaugurated today in Lucknow by the Registrar General of India, Mr. Vivek Joshi (I.A.S.).
NDC Lucknow will be operated completely by government officials, however, the confidential data stored here can be accessed for research and similar purposes by people who request access through proper channels. Further, based on the data stored in the NDC Lucknow, state and central government will begin the task of making new policies related to development.
In an exclusive interview with us, Mr. N. S. Pandey, UP’s Director of Census Operations stated, “Uttar Pradesh is home to one-sixth of India’s population and it is a privilege of UP that the National Data Centre here will store the data of entire India, as opposed to just one-sixth of it.”
Key features of NDC Lucknow
Foundation Stone of NDC Lucknow
Here are some of the key features of the city’s first National Data Centre –
- It is an upgraded Data Capture Centre that will store data coming in from all the states of India.
- In case either of the National Data Centres located in Delhi or Bengaluru malfunction, Lucknow’s NDC will act as a failsafe.
- Acting as a Disaster Recovery Site, Lucknow’s NDC can also recover lost data in case of an unprecedented circumstance.
The central government approved Lucknow as the site for India’s third National Data Centre as it is the capital of a state which is densely populated and centrally located. Also, NDC in Lucknow will promote a healthy culture of research by encashing the intelligentsia of UP’s 2 IITs and an IIM along with several central and state universities.
