{
  "id": 15244599,
  "title": "Congress alleges ‘RSS employment scheme’ as Centre opens Census enumerator posts to private individuals",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/congress-alleges-rss-employment-scheme-as-centre-opens-census",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T17:26:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/congress-alleges-rss-employment-scheme-as-centre-opens-census-enumerator-posts-to-private-individuals/article71597081.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a controversial move, the Indian government has opened Census enumerator positions to private individuals, including members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to the Congress party. A former Census official stated that while the provision for any person to be appointed as an enumerator existed in the 1990 Census Rules, there had been no precedent of private individuals being engaged in this role. The current Census 2027 is set to span February 2027, coinciding with annual school examinations and the upcoming Assembly elections in several states. The government's decision has raised concerns about accountability and the availability of personnel, particularly in light of the shortage of government schoolteachers and the upcoming school and board examinations.",
  "summary": "Party questions Centre’s decision to widen pool of enumerators; former Census official cites shortage of government teachers",
  "key_points": [
    "Congress party alleges 'RSS employment scheme' in Census enumerator posts.",
    "Former Census official says private individuals never appointed before.",
    "Census 2027 overlaps with school exams and upcoming Assembly elections."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}