The first serious attempt to enumerate the population of India through a census like operation was carried out in which year?

Introduction / Context:
Population enumeration is crucial for administration and planning. In British India, the modern census system developed gradually. While 1881 is often regarded as the year of the first synchronous census, an earlier attempt to count the population on a large scale had already been made. This question asks about the year of that first systematic but not fully synchronous enumeration.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on the first attempt to enumerate India s population.
• This attempt was not yet the modern synchronous census, but still significant.
• Options include 1872, 1884, 1896, and 1921.

Concept / Approach:
The first serious attempt at a wide ranging census in India was carried out in 1872 during British rule. This was followed by the first synchronous census in 1881, conducted on a single reference date across the country. Therefore, when asked about the first enumeration attempt, we must pick 1872, not 1881 or a later date. The years 1884, 1896, and 1921 belong to different historical contexts.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Distinguish between the first census like attempt and the first regular synchronous census. Step 2: Recall that the experimental enumeration was in 1872. Step 3: Remember that 1881 marks the first synchronous census conducted throughout British India. Step 4: Recognise that 1896 and 1921 represent later census years and historical periods. Step 5: Select 1872 as the correct answer because the question explicitly refers to the first attempt.

Verification / Alternative check:
Government records and census history documentation confirm that 1872 was the year of the first large scale enumeration effort, although methods were not yet fully uniform.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The year 1884 does not correspond to a major census milestone. The year 1896 is simply a later period when regular decennial censuses were already under way. The year 1921 is known for India s population showing a distinct demographic trend, not for being the first attempt.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners mistakenly choose 1881 or a nearby year because they recall it as the first regular census. Careful reading of the phrase first attempt helps avoid this error.

Final Answer:
The first attempt to enumerate the population of India was made in 1872.