Over 10 million
Explanation
The Census of India, conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner (a statutory body), provides the official demographic data on child labour. This data is utilized by bodies such as the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to monitor compliance with child rights.
Detailed Analysis:
- According to the Census 2011, the total number of working children in the age group of 5 to 14 years in India was 10.13 million.
- This figure indicates a decline in child labour compared to the Census 2001, which reported approximately 12.6 million working children in the same age group.
- The data includes both 'Main Workers' (those working for more than 6 months) and 'Marginal Workers' (those working for less than 6 months).
- Five states-Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh-constitute nearly 55% of the total working children in India.
Key Takeaway:
As per Census 2011, the population of child labourers (5–14 years) in India stands at approximately 10.1 million.