Census and caste enumeration dates finalised; digital census for first time in 2027
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Census and caste enumeration dates finalised; digital census for first time in 2027
The Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday announced the schedule for the long-delayed Census, confirming that it will include caste enumeration. The exercise will be carried out in two phases, with reference dates set for October 1, 2026, in snow-bound regions and March 1,2027, for the rest of the country. This will be India’s first Census in more than 15 years. The last exercise was conducted in 2011. The Census scheduled for 2021 was postponed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an official statement, the ministry said, “The reference date for Population Census – 2027 will be 00:00 hours of the first day of March 2027. For the Union Territory of Ladakh and the non-synchronous snow-bound areas of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir and states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be 00.00 hours of the first day of October 2026.”
It further noted that, “It has been decided to conduct Population Census-2027 in two phases along with enumeration of castes.” The announcement marks the first official confirmation of the government’s plan to integrate caste data collection with the national census, a politically significant move with implications for policymaking and affirmative action.
“The notification for the intent of conducting the Population Census with these reference dates will be published in the official gazette tentatively on 16.06.2025, as per provision of section 3 of Census Act 1948,” the statement said.
This will be India’s first Census in more than 15 years. The last exercise was conducted in 2011. The Census scheduled for 2021 was postponed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the ministry noted, “All preparations for the first phase of the Census to be conducted in 2021 were completed and the fieldwork was scheduled to begin in some States/UTs from April 1, 2020. However, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country, the census work was postponed.”
The Census is conducted under the legal framework of the Census Act, 1948 and the Census Rules, 1990. With the new timeline, preparations for one of the world’s largest population enumeration exercises are expected to resume in earnest, potentially reshaping the data landscape on social demographics, especially with the inclusion of caste data for the first time in decades.
Census 2027 Announced, Will Include Long-Pending Caste Enumeration
The long-awaited Population Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases, with an added emphasis on caste enumeration. This will be India’s first census in 16 years, following the postponement of the 2021 exercise due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The reference date for the upcoming census will be 00:00 hours of 1 March 2027. For snow-bound and non-synchronous areas — such as the Union territory (UT) of Ladakh and remote parts of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand — the reference date will be 1 October 2026. A notification of intent for conducting the Census and caste enumerated will be published in the official gazette on 16 June 2025.
Census 2027 will be critical in updating demographic, housing, and socio-economic data that guides policymaking, planning, and governance at all levels. It is expected to inform decisions on education, health, employment, electoral boundaries, and targeted welfare schemes.
The move to include caste enumeration is being seen as a landmark policy shift that could reshape India’s socio-political landscape in the coming years.
In a release, the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) says that the reference date for the upcoming census will be 00:00 hours of 1 March 2027. However, for snow-bound and non-synchronous areas — such as the Union territory (UT) of Ladakh and remote parts of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be 00:00 hours of 1 October 2026.
A notification of intent for conducting the Census and caste enumeration will be published in the official gazette on 16 June 2025, as mandated under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948, the MHA says.
India last conducted a census in 2011, which followed a two-phase structure — house listing operations (HLO) and population enumeration (PE). The planned Census 2021, originally scheduled for April 2020, was fully prepared but postponed indefinitely due to the global pandemic. The upcoming exercise will thus mark the first post-pandemic enumeration and is expected to address major demographic shifts and social dynamics.
Significantly, the 2027 Census will include a detailed caste count, a demand long voiced by political and social groups seeking data on other backward classes (OBCs) and other communities for more equitable policy-making and resource allocation.
While caste was last officially recorded in the 1931 census (apart from scheduled castes and scheduled tribes), the socio-economic and caste census (SECC) of 2011 was not made public in full due to data inconsistencies. The inclusion of caste enumeration in the upcoming census is expected to generate a rich database for social welfare planning, though it is also likely to spark political debates.
In line with historical precedent, the 2027 Census will be carried out in two stages:
Phase I – House Listing (tentative dates yet to be notified)
Phase II – Population Enumeration, with final data anchored to the reference date
The government has reiterated that the census will be conducted under the Census Act, 1948, and Census Rules, 1990, ensuring full legal backing for the exercise.
As in earlier years, special timelines have been devised for snow-bound regions. In 2011, enumeration in parts of J&K, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh was conducted in September with an 1st October reference date, a model that will be replicated in 2026 for the 2027 count.
As the world’s most populous nation gears up for its most complex data collection exercise, all eyes will be on the methodology, transparency, and political impact of the census — especially in an era increasingly driven by data-centric governance.