Census 2027 Notification Out: Everything You Need to Know About Caste, Dates & Self-Enumeration

Census 2027 Update: The Government of India has officially notified today that the 16th Indian Census 2027 will begin from October 2026 in two phases, and this time it will include caste-based enumeration. This will be the first caste census in India since 2011. It is also India's 8th census since independence.

When Will the Census Happen?

The government has decided to carry out the Census 2027 in two phases depending on the region's climate. As per official data, in hilly and snowy areas like Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the census will have a reference date of October 1, 2026. For the rest of the country, the reference date will be March 1, 2027.

What's New in Census 2027?

One of the biggest highlights in the Census 2027 is the inclusion of caste enumeration in India's census after a gap of 16 years. This means data will be collected not only about your family's size and lifestyle but also about your caste and community.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has assured that strict data protection measures will be implemented during data collection, transmission, and storage. Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently reviewed the preparations along with other senior officials to ensure that personal data stays secure and confidential throughout the census process.

Accurate population and caste data is expected to help the government plan things like education, healthcare, roads, housing, jobs, and more.

India's First Digital Census with Self-Enumeration Option

The 2027 census will be 100% digital, a first for India. Over 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors will be involved, using mobile tablets to collect data. What's more, the government will allow people to self-enumerate, which means you can fill out the census details online yourself, making it easier and faster.

Two-Phase Process: House and Population Data

The Census 2027 will be carried out in two main phases. First will be the House Listing Operation (HLO), where data about your house, like toilet, electricity, water supply, internet access, and more, will be collected. The second will be the Population Enumeration (PE) phase, which will gather personal details such as name, age, gender, occupation, religion, education, and now, caste.

According to data from PIB, Census 2021 was also planned to be conducted in two phases, the first between April and September 2020 and the second in February 2021. All preparations for the initial phase were completed, and fieldwork was set to begin in some states and union territories from April 1, 2020. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the postponement of the entire census exercise across the country.