The primary responsibility for conducting the census in India lies with the:

State governments
Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner
National Statistical Commission
Ministry of Home Affairs

The correct answer is: b) Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner.

The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner (ORGC) is the nodal agency responsible for conducting the census in India. It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The ORGC is headed by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, who is an officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

The ORGC is responsible for planning, organizing, and conducting the census. It also publishes the results of the census. The ORGC has a network of field offices across the country. These offices are responsible for collecting data from households and individuals.

The ORGC also has a number of technical units that are responsible for developing and maintaining the census software and hardware. These units also provide training to the field staff.

The ORGC is a highly professional organization with a long history of conducting censuses in India. It has a well-established system for collecting, processing, and analyzing data. The ORGC is committed to providing accurate and timely data to the government and the public.

The other options are incorrect because:

  • a) State governments do not have the primary responsibility for conducting the census in India. The ORGC is the nodal agency responsible for conducting the census.
  • c) The National Statistical Commission is a statutory body that is responsible for advising the government on statistical matters. It does not have the primary responsibility for conducting the census.
  • d) The Ministry of Home Affairs is a ministry of the Government of India that is responsible for internal security, law and order, and border management. It does not have the primary responsibility for conducting the census.