New Delhi: The High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes (HLCDC) has launched a new portal with a “share your inputs” section, through which it has sought records, preferably “supported by evidence, data or documented experience”, of demographic changes from the public. The new web site can be used by just about any individual or government and private body.The questions it poses are blunt rather than detailed, however, such as: “describe the major demographic changes” in any given area.This demand is in sync with the starting point of the HLCDC, when it was set up by the Union ministry of Home Affairs in May 2026. Led by former Supreme Court judge Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar, the body’s terms of reference presume that demographic changes have already occurred in India. It only undertakes to assess these changes – not to see if any changes have actually taken place.As the new web site, explaining the purpose of the committee states, demographic changes are “severely impacting public service delivery, local governance, resource distribution and social cohesion”. The first of its eight terms of reference is: “To undertake an extensive consideration of the challenges arising from demographic changes, including due to illegal immigration.”Terms of reference of the HLCDC.Also, while the web site does not clearly state what the demographic changes are, it attributes reasons for them, including that they are “emerging due to external abnormal factors, including illegal immigration, irregular population mobility and administrative laxity” and that they are “frequently not attributable to normal fertility or mortality trends”.Also read: ‘Demographic Change’ Committee Minus a Demographer? Why Sole Focus on Illegal Immigration is a ProblemNote that the Census exercise, which includes enumeration of religion-wise demographic data, has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently underway. It is unclear what data the HLCDC’s claims are based on, as the previous census, conducted in 2011, does not bear out “demographic changes”.The form provided by the HLCDC for citizens to complain about alleged demographic changes, including based on news reports, maps, official records, court documents, publications or “other” evidence, such as videos and personal case studies.The committee, however, wants people to share their “inputs”, particularly videos and photographs, demonstrating these alleged changes, which it says will be used in its deliberations.Asking citizens to report on (or against) each other is a relatively new trend in India, recently seen in action during the Special Intensive Revision when Form 7 was seen to be actively used to report others as undeserving to be on the electoral rolls.Also read: What a Biography of Hitler Tells Us About the Supporters of Authoritarian LeadersAnother aspect of the HLCDC is that its aims or the policy measures it is empowered to propose are unknown. Earlier, a committee headed by former justice Rajinder Sachar during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government examined the social, economic and educational status of Muslim communities and came up with detailed suggestions, though they were never acted upon.The Hindu reported on September 29 that the HLCDC has asked state governments for religion-wise data for the past 15 years on birth and vehicle registrations, school enrolment and property transactions, as well as district-wise details of religious structures and “unusual” increases in Aadhaar, voter ID and ration card registrations.The publication reported that state governments were at a loss, since Indian official record-keeping is not oriented to record religious identity of citizens as a matter of course. “It has also sought intelligence assessments and commission reports on religious conversions among Scheduled Tribe communities, and details of operational detention centres, among other information,” the report said.Religion-wise break up of birth registrations, school enrolment, ration cards, vehicle registrations, property transactions and voter registrations are included in the information the HLCDC has sought from states. The committee has also asked states to identify “unusual” increases in Aadhaar enrolments, voter IDs and ration cards and to furnish information about “forged” identity documents.“The committee has also asked states what policy directives, executive orders or amendments to land and municipal laws they have introduced over the past 15 years to curb unauthorised migration and settlement,” the Hindu reported.