ensus can be described as an official numbering of a given species over a given demographic area. It can also be described as the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). It can be contrasted with Sampling in which information is obtained only from a subset of the population. As such it is a method used for accumulating statistical data. Census has its origins in the Roman Empire, but the modern system has its roots in seventeenth-century Sweden.

Census of Minor Irrigation schemes 

Irrigation schemes using either groundwater or surface water and having a cultivable area up to 2000 hectare individually is categorized as Minor Irrigation schemes. The schemes have been categorized into five major types; (1) Dug well (2) Shallow tube well (3) Deep tube well (4) Surface flow and (5) Surface lift.

The census of Minor Irrigation (MI) schemes dates back to year 1986, when the first census of Minor Irrigation schemes was conducted with the reference year 1986-1987. The need for conducting the census of MI schemes arose after it was felt that a database of these schemes will serve the planning, development and management of these schemes which contribute to agriculture in a big way. The second census with reference year 1993-94, was conducted in all States and Union Territories, except Gujarat, Maharashtra and UT’s of Chandigarh, Daman & Diu and Lakshadweep). 

This census, the third in the series, has been conducted with reference year 2000-01 and is a contribution to e-Governance.