India is preparing to undertake its first population census in 16 years, with the 2027 exercise introducing digital data collection, online self-enumeration and caste enumeration as the country seeks to update demographic information that has remained anchored to the 2011 count.
The Ministry of Home Affairs notified the schedule for the second phase of Census 2027 on October 30, setting January 25 to February 28, 2027, as the population enumeration period for most states and Union territories. A revisional round will follow from March 1 to March 5, while residents will be able to submit their information through an online self-enumeration facility from January 10 to January 24.
The reference date for this phase has been fixed at midnight on March 1, 2027.
The exercise marks a major shift in how India collects population data. Census officials will use mobile applications to record information during household visits, while residents will have the option of submitting details online. The government has also introduced a digital system for monitoring field operations and managing census activities.
The 2021 census was postponed amid the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving the country without a new comprehensive population count for more than a decade. The 2027 exercise is expected to provide updated information on demographic composition, migration, education, fertility and household conditions.
The Union Cabinet has approved an expenditure of ₹11,718.24 crore for the exercise, which is expected to involve around 31 lakh enumerators and supervisors.
Digital Census to Change How India Collects Population Data
Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases, beginning with the House Listing and Housing Census, which was scheduled between April and September 2026.
The first phase collects information on housing conditions, household amenities and assets. It also establishes the household database required for the subsequent population count.
The second phase, Population Enumeration, will collect individual-level information covering demographic, socio-economic, educational, migration and fertility characteristics.
For the first time, the census is being conducted through a fully digital data collection system. Enumerators will use mobile applications on smartphones to record information during household visits, while online self-enumeration will provide an additional route for public participation.
The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner has said the digital system is intended to improve the collection, processing and dissemination of census information. The exercise will use a Bring Your Own Device model, allowing enumerators to use their Android or iOS smartphones with official applications.
The online self-enumeration facility will be available in both phases. The mobile application and self-enumeration portal are being made available in 16 languages, including Hindi and English.
The government has also established a central monitoring portal to track field activities and the progress of enumeration. According to official information, the training programme will cover approximately 31 lakh enumerators and supervisors through a nationwide network of trainers.
The scale of the exercise makes data security and public participation important considerations. Under Section 15 of the Census Act, 1948, individual census records are confidential and cannot be made available for inspection or used as evidence in legal proceedings.
Caste Enumeration Adds a Significant New Dimension
One of the most consequential features of Census 2027 will be the inclusion of caste enumeration during the population-counting phase.
The government decided to include caste enumeration following a decision by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs. The move will bring caste-related information into the nationwide census exercise, although the precise questions and methodology for collecting the data will be governed by the notified questionnaire.
The inclusion adds a significant dimension to an exercise that traditionally provides the statistical foundation for public policy and development planning.
Updated population and social data can help governments assess demographic changes, migration patterns, educational levels, household conditions and the distribution of public services. Caste-related information is also expected to contribute to discussions on social composition and the design of welfare and development policies.
The 2011 census remains the last completed nationwide population count. Since then, India has undergone substantial changes in urbanisation, migration, household structures and economic activity. The absence of a more recent census has meant that several planning exercises have had to rely on older population benchmarks or estimates.
The latest notification also provides separate arrangements for regions facing electoral or geographical constraints. Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa and non-snow-bound areas of Uttarakhand will conduct population enumeration earlier, with online self-enumeration from November 16 to November 30, 2026, followed by door-to-door enumeration from December 1 to January 4, 2027. Their revisional round will take place from January 5 to January 9.
Manipur has been excluded from the October 30 notification until further declaration. Ladakh and snow-bound areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir will also follow separate arrangements because of winter accessibility challenges.
The staggered schedules underline the administrative demands of conducting a census across a country with widely differing geographical and logistical conditions.
Beyond the exercise of counting people, Census 2027 will determine how effectively India can update the statistical foundation used for policy decisions. Its digital systems and caste enumeration will make the exercise different from previous censuses, while the long gap since 2011 raises the importance of producing comprehensive and reliable data.