The correct option is Option 2: Lord Mayo.
Key Details about India's First Census:
The First (Non-Synchronous) Census: The first census in India was conducted in 1872 under the administration of the Viceroy, Lord Mayo. However, this initial exercise was not synchronous, meaning it was not taken at the same time across the entire country and did not cover all territories under British rule.
The First Synchronous Census: The first complete, synchronous, and comprehensive decennial (ten-yearly) census of India was later conducted in 1881 under the administration of Lord Ripon. Since 1881, the census has been conducted uninterruptedly once every ten years.
Fact Sheet: Census of India
The Pioneer: W.W. Plowden was appointed as the Census Commissioner for the landmark 1881 census.
Post-Independence: Following India's independence, the Census Act of 1948 was passed to provide a permanent legal framework for the exercise.
Governing Authority: The census is organized and conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, which operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
Important Questions from Modern India (Pre-Congress Phase)
- Colonial economic policies created a skewed distribution of income and wealth in Indian society. Which of the following is a key indicator of income inequality in colonial India?
- In which battle was Tipu Sultan killed?
- Which Act of British Parliament introduced an 'open competition' system for the selection and recruitment of civil servants?
- Who introduced the Zamindari system?
- Who was the ruler of Bengal during the famous 'Black Hole tragedy'?
