Census 2027: The first phase of India’s next national Census will begin on Wednesday, marking the start of the world’s largest population enumeration exercise. The upcoming count will be the country’s 16th Census and the eighth since Independence, with the previous exercise conducted in 2011.
Originally scheduled for 2021, the Census was deferred due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With the process now underway, authorities are preparing for a large-scale, technology-driven data collection effort.
Phase 1: House Listing Exercise Begins
The initial phase, known as the House Listing and Housing Census, will run for six months until September. During this stage, officials will gather detailed information on housing conditions, household amenities and assets.
The reference date for this phase is set at 00:00 hours of March 1, 2027. However, for Ladakh and snow-bound, non-synchronous regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, the reference date will be October 1, 2026.
Different states and Union Territories will follow staggered schedules. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Odisha and Sikkim will conduct house listing between April 16 and May 15, with a self-enumeration window from April 1 to 15.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and Haryana will carry out the exercise from May 1 to May 30, preceded by a self-enumeration period between April 16 and April 30.
Phase 2: Population Enumeration in 2027
The second phase, focused on population enumeration, is scheduled for February 2027. In snow-bound and non-synchronous regions such as Ladakh, parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, this phase will instead take place in September 2026.
During this stage, enumerators will collect detailed data on demographics, socio-economic conditions, education, migration and fertility.
First Digital Census With Caste Enumeration
In a first for India, Census 2027 will be conducted digitally, with enumerators using a mobile application to collect and upload data in real time.
Citizens will also have the option to self-enumerate online in both phases, marking a significant shift from previous exercises.
Another key feature of the upcoming Census is the inclusion of caste enumeration for the first time, though specific dates for this component are yet to be announced.
Rs 11,718 Crore Allocated for Exercise
The Union government has approved an outlay of Rs 11,718.24 crore for Census 2027, underlining the scale and complexity of the exercise.