The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, today for the establishment of a Census Data Research Workstation at its Computer Center. This initiative marked a significant milestone in advancing research capabilities by facilitating access to vital census data for academicians, researchers, and students.

The MoU was signed between Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, and Ms. Sheetal Verma IAS, Director, Census Operations and Civil Registration, Government of India, in the presence of Prof. Nisanth Nair, Dean of Digital Infrastructure and Automation; Prof. Tarun Gupta, Dean of Research and Development; Prof. Ashoke De, Dean of Academic Affairs; Ms. Swagat Bhandari IAS, OSD IIT Kanpur; Prof. Subhra Sankar Dhar, Department of Mathematics and Statistics; Mr. SS Sharma, Joint Director, Directorate of Census Operations, Uttar Pradesh; Dr. Ritul Kamal, Deputy Director, Directorate of Census Operations, Uttar Pradesh; and Mr. Sandeep Rai, Deputy Director, ORGI New Delhi.

With this initiative, IIT Kanpur became the first technology institute in Uttar Pradesh and the third among central universities/institutes in the state to establish a Census Data Research Workstation. This was the fifth such facility in Uttar Pradesh, joining the ranks of Banaras Hindu University, Aligarh Muslim University, Bundelkhand University, and D.D.U Gorakhpur University, where similar workstations have been operational.

The Census Data Research Workstation at IIT Kanpur provided researchers access to published census tables and micro-level data from 1991 to 2011 in a digital format. This allowed for in-depth analysis and studies on various socio-economic and demographic aspects of India's population. The workstation was designed to support the formulation of data-driven policies and enhance the research ecosystem by enabling detailed evaluations of developmental programs.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, said, “We are honoured to partner with the Ministry of Home Affairs for this crucial initiative. This collaboration is a testament to IIT Kanpur’s dedication to data-driven research and innovation. The Census Data Research Workstation will serve as an invaluable resource for researchers and students, equipping them with access to extensive data for meaningful research and policy development.”

The Census Data Research Workstation strengthened IIT Kanpur’s commitment by enhancing its dynamic research environment and contributed significantly to data-driven policymaking in India. Over 30,000 tables and 8,000+ articles and summaries based on census data were already available on the official website of the Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner (censusindia.gov.in), and this facility further eased access to essential datasets.

With this initiative, IIT Kanpur continued to advance its mission of technological innovation and excellence in research. The Census Data Research Workstation played a pivotal role in enabling data-centric academic studies and contributing to the nation’s development efforts.