New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has confirmed that preparations for the Census 2027 are progressing steadily, with the office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (ORGI) in the process of finalising the questionnaire for the nationwide exercise. The update was provided in Parliament on Tuesday, as the government responded to questions on the timeline, methodology, and content of the upcoming census.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, in a written reply to former MP Shatrughan Sinha, explained that the questionnaire for Census 2027 will be notified by the central government through the Official Gazette under Rule 6 of the Census Rules, 1990, in accordance with sub-section (1) of Section 8 of the Census Act. Rai confirmed that the timeline for the Census has been set in line with past practices, ensuring consistency and continuity with previous exercises.

Caste Enumeration to Be Included

A significant feature of the 2027 Census will be the inclusion of caste enumeration, a move approved by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) on April 30, 2025. On queries regarding whether respondents would be required to disclose their caste, Rai clarified that “the respondent is required to answer questions to the best of his knowledge or belief.” This marks a major development, as caste data has not been comprehensively collected in the last several decades, and will play an important role in future policymaking and social planning.

Two-Phase Census Exercise

The MHA outlined that the Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases:

• Phase I – House Listing and Housing Census: Scheduled between April and September 2026, this phase will involve gathering detailed data about households, housing conditions, and household amenities. While the overall period extends over several months, enumeration in each area will be conducted over a 30-day window, tailored to the convenience of state and union territory governments.
• Phase II – Population Enumeration (PE): This phase will be carried out in February 2027, with 1st March 2027 at 00:00 hours as the reference date for most regions. However, for snow-bound or non-synchronous areas in Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, enumeration will occur in September 2026, using 1st October 2026 at 00:00 hours as the reference date.

The pre-test for Phase I of Census 2027 has already been conducted from November 10 to November 30, 2025, allowing officials to fine-tune procedures and validate data collection methods. This exercise ensures that enumerators are adequately trained and that the mobile-based digital data collection system is functioning efficiently before the full-scale rollout.

Digital Census and Self-Enumeration

The MHA has emphasized that Census 2027 will leverage digital technology to streamline operations. Enumerators will collect data using mobile applications, a move aimed at improving accuracy, reducing errors, and expediting the data collation process. Additionally, provisions will be made for self-enumeration, allowing individuals to submit their household and personal details online. This hybrid approach is expected to enhance participation and ensure more comprehensive coverage, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas.

Scale and Logistics of Census 2027

Census 2027 will be one of the largest administrative exercises in India’s history, involving approximately 3.4 million enumerators and supervisors across the country. For comparison, the earlier pre-test for the Census 2021—conducted in 2019—covered 76 districts across 36 states and UTs, including 90 sample areas (54 rural and 36 urban), engaging 6,000 enumerators and 1,100 supervisors. The scale of the upcoming census is expected to be significantly larger, reflecting India’s growing population and the inclusion of new methodologies such as mobile-based digital enumeration.

Timeline and Data Processing

While the data collection phase is scheduled to conclude by 1st March 2027, the full collation, verification, and publication of census data is expected to take two to three years. This timeline accounts for the processing of the massive volume of demographic, socio-economic, and caste-related data, and ensures that results are reliable for planning and policy purposes.

Historical Context

The Census of India has been conducted every ten years since 1872, and is a key instrument for governance, planning, and the allocation of resources. Originally, the Census 2021 was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other logistical challenges, making the 2027 Census a crucial exercise for updating demographic and socio-economic indicators. The inclusion of caste enumeration is particularly noteworthy, as it will provide detailed insights into social composition, aiding policymaking in sectors such as education, employment, and welfare programs.

Conclusion

The preparations for Census 2027 reflect the government’s commitment to modernizing data collection through digital tools, while also ensuring that critical socio-economic indicators—including caste—are captured comprehensively. The two-phase approach, large-scale enumerator deployment, and digital data collection methods underscore the scale and complexity of this national exercise.

With the Census set to be completed by March 2027 and subsequent data processing expected to take a few years, Census 2027 promises to provide a detailed and up-to-date snapshot of India’s population, households, and social composition, which will be instrumental for future planning and policy decisions at both state and central levels.