09 January 2026: MAINS CURRENT AFFAIRS

MAINS Current Affairs includes Centre Issues Notification for First Phase of Census of India 2027 & 10-Minute Delivery Model in India’s Quick-Commerce Sector

Economy

1. Centre Issues Notification for First Phase of Census of India 2027

In News

The Union Government has issued the notification for the first phase of the Census of India 2027, marking the resumption of decennial population enumeration after a long gap.

About the Census

The Census is the systematic collection, compilation, and analysis of population data.
Historical roots trace back to Arthashastra and Ain-i-Akbari.
The modern synchronous census began in 1881 under British rule.
C. Plowden was India’s first Census Commissioner.
Typical census schedules record age, sex, literacy, religion, language, caste, etc.

Legal & Administrative Framework

Census is a Union List subject.
Governed by the Census Act, 1948, empowering the Centre to conduct census operations and appoint a Census Commissioner.
Union Cabinet-approved cost: ₹11,718.24 crore.
Caste enumeration to be included.
India’s first fully digital census, using Android & iOS mobile applications, with provision for self-enumeration.

How is the Census Conducted?

House-listing & Housing Census (2026)

- Survey of every building.
Data on:
- Housing structure, ownership, rooms
- Construction material
- Water, electricity, toilets, cooking fuel
- Household assets
- Provides insight into living conditions and basic amenities.

Population Enumeration (2027)

- Individual-level data collection:
- Age, sex, education, occupation
- Religion, caste/tribe
- Disability, migration
- Covers entire population, including the homeless.
- Core demographic and socio-economic dataset.

Data Processing

- Centralised digital processing.
- Phased release:
- Provisional population figures
- Final detailed tables
- Quality checks and audits ensure accuracy.

Importance of Census 2027

Policy & Planning: Foundation for schemes in health, education, housing, employment.
Resource Allocation: Basis for fiscal transfers to States and local bodies.
Representation:
- Delimitation of constituencies
- Reservation policies
Special Significance (2027):
- Caste enumeration for all Hindus
- Enables delimitation of legislative seats
- Supports one-third reservation for women
Digital Transformation: Faster, transparent, and efficient data collection and dissemination.

Issues & Concerns

Digital Divide: Limited internet access in rural, tribal, and remote areas.
Data Security: Protection of sensitive demographic and caste data.
Coordination Challenges: Synchronised execution across all States & UTs.
Urban Complexity: Migrants, informal settlements, and rapid urbanisation complicate enumeration.

Conclusion & Way Forward

The Census 2027 is a landmark governance exercise, blending India’s long census tradition with digital innovation.

Its success hinges on:

Bridging the digital divide
Ensuring robust data protection
Building public trust and participation

If executed effectively, it will provide a comprehensive, inclusive, and timely demographic profile, crucial for evidence-based policymaking and long-term national development.

Economy

2. 10-Minute Delivery Model in India’s Quick-Commerce Sector

Context

The rapid rise of the 10-minute delivery model in India’s quick-commerce (Q-commerce) sector has transformed urban consumption patterns. While it promises speed and convenience, its necessity, sustainability, and ethical foundations are increasingly questioned.

Recently, over one lakh gig and platform workers went on strike nationwide, demanding an end to the 10–20 minute delivery regime, citing safety risks and exploitative working conditions.

About India’s Quick-Commerce Sector

Recognised by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) as a transformative innovation in last-mile logistics and urban retail.
Combines:
- E-commerce platforms
- AI-driven logistics
- Gig-economy workforce
- NITI Aayog (Digital Economy Report, 2024):

Quick-commerce reflects the convergence of data analytics, AI logistics, and on-demand consumer ecosystems.

10-Minute Delivery Model relies on:
- AI demand forecasting
- Micro / dark-store warehousing
- Urban route optimisation

Market Overview

Market size (FY 2024–25): ₹25,300 crore (USD 3.1 billion)
Projected CAGR: ~49% till 2028
2024–27 projection:
- Industry expected to triple to ₹1–1.5 lakh crore
- ~28% annual growth
Dark Stores:
- Over 600 nationwide
- Concentrated in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad

Employment & Labour Participation

- Ministry of Labour & Employment (Annual Gig Work Bulletin 2024–25):
- 5 lakh+ delivery workers in Q-commerce
- 60% part-time gig workers
- Daily earnings: ₹700–₹1,200
NITI Aayog projection:
- India’s gig workforce may reach 2.35 crore by 2029–30

Core Issues in the 10-Minute Delivery Model

Employment Paradox

- ~20 million new job seekers annually
- Only ~2 million formal jobs created
- Gig platforms act as an employment buffer for low-skill labour

Human Pressure Over Technology

- “10-minute delivery” depends less on algorithms and more on:
- Human speed
- Precarious wages
- App-based surveillance & deactivation risks

Economic Imbalance

- Labour is the adjustable cost variable
- Tech, branding, and investor returns are insulated
- Marginal consumer convenience comes at high worker cost

Ethical Contradiction

- Society rejects unsafe shortcuts in:
- Child labour
- Factory safety
- Yet, human speed exploitation for convenience is normalised

Labour Codes: Limitations

India’s new Labour Codes provide recognition without protection:

Non-mandatory benefits:
- Accident insurance, maternity benefits depend on future notifications
No employee status:
- Excluded from minimum wage, paid leave, collective bargaining
Algorithmic Blind Spot:
- No regulation of opaque rating, allocation, or incentive algorithms

Other Key Concerns

Safety:
- Rising accidents → Labour Ministry’s Safe Miles Initiative (2025)
Urban Congestion:
- Urban Development Ministry flags unchecked dark-store zoning
Data Privacy:
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 governs location & behavioural data analytics

Related Efforts & Initiatives

Draft Social Security Code for Gig & Platform Workers (2025):
Mandatory accident insurance
- Health cover under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
Algorithmic pay transparency
- Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC):
Pilot Quick Retail Nodes for interoperable Q-commerce
Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 (Amendment 2024):
Transparency in delivery claims
- Disclosure of working conditions
Accountability for misleading “10-minute” promises
Sustainable Packaging (MoEF&CC):
- 100% recyclable packaging mandate by 2026

Way Forward: Beyond Speed-Driven Commerce

NITI Aayog – Digital Logistics Vision (2025–2030):

Expansion into Tier-II & Tier-III cities via ONDC
Shift from reactive to predictive commerce
Centre-State-startup collaboration for safe ecosystems

Structural Reforms Needed

Strengthen universal social security nets
Reform labour laws for digital-era protections
Establish responsible AI governance
Revitalise labour-intensive sectors:
Manufacturing
Construction
Textiles

Conclusion

The 10-minute delivery model symbolises India’s digital ambition but exposes deep structural contradictions in employment, ethics, and urban sustainability.
True progress lies not in shaving minutes off delivery times, but in balancing innovation with dignity of labour, ensuring that technological speed does not come at the cost of human safety and equity.