Census 2027

Every ten years or so, India counts every single person. That count is the Census. The next one, Census 2027, is already under way. It will ask a question most Indians have not been asked since 1931: what is your caste? This lesson explains how the Census works, what is new, and why it matters for jobs, welfare and even Lok Sabha seats.

1What is the Census, and who runs it?

Must Know

When did India start counting?

• The first census attempt was in 1872, under Lord Mayo. It was not done on one single day.
• The first full census on one fixed date came in 1881.
• Since then, India has counted roughly every ten years.

Who is in charge?

• Census is a Union subject. It is entry 69 of the Union List, in the Seventh Schedule.
• The Census Act, 1948 and the Census Rules, 1990 set the rules. The Act is older than the Constitution.
• The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India runs it. This office is under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Why is 2027 the 16th census?

• The last census was in 2011.
• The 2021 round was postponed, not cancelled, because of COVID-19.
• So Census 2027 is the 16th census, and the first in 16 years.

(Source: PIB)

2How does Census 2027 run in two phases?

Must Know

Think of it like a school survey. First, you list every classroom. Then, you list every student inside. The Census works the same way.

Phase 1: Houselisting

• Its full name is the Houselisting and Housing Census.
• It ran from April to September 2026, State by State.
• It asks 33 questions about the house: housing, amenities and assets.

Phase 2: Population Enumeration

• This is when every person is counted.
• For most of India, it happens in February 2027. The reference date is 1 March 2027.
• Ladakh and snow-bound parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand go first. Their reference date is 1 October 2026.
• Goa, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and parts of Uttarakhand go early too. They have Assembly elections in 2027. Their count runs from 1 December 2026 to 4 January 2027.

(Source: Daily Excelsior)

3What is new in Census 2027?

Good to Know

How is the data collected?

• It is India’s first digital census. Enumerators record answers on a mobile app.
• Households can also use Self-Enumeration. They fill in their own details online, before the visit.
• Door-to-door visits still happen.
• All answers are confidential under the Census Act. They are used only for statistics and planning.

What will people be asked for the first time?

• Caste, for everyone, not only SCs and STs.
• The place of COVID-19 vaccination.
• The number of bank accounts.
• ID details where available: Aadhaar, voter ID, passport, driving licence and mobile number.
• Parents’ particulars.

How much will it cost?

• The Cabinet approved ₹11,718.24 crore for Census 2027.

(Source: PIB; The Hindu)

4Why does the caste count matter?

Must Know

When was the decision made?

• On 30 April 2025, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs decided to count caste.
• Caste is asked in Phase 2, Population Enumeration.
• It is the first count of all castes since 1931. SCs and STs were always counted.

Didn’t India try this in 2011?

• Yes. The Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 collected caste data.
• But it was a separate survey, not part of the main Census.
• Its caste data was never released. The government said it had over 46 lakh caste entries, full of errors.
• On 15 December 2021, the Supreme Court turned down Maharashtra’s plea to make it public.

Why does it matter?

Caste data shapes big decisions. Reservation in jobs and colleges is one. Welfare schemes are another. Without fresh data, debates rely on numbers from 1931. Bihar ran its own caste survey in 2023, which pushed this national debate forward.

(Source: Tribune)

5How is the Census linked to Lok Sabha seats?

Great to Know

Here is a link many students miss. The Census does not just count people. It can also redraw India’s political map.

• Seats in the Lok Sabha are shared among States by population.
• The 42nd Amendment (1976) froze the number of seats, based on the 1971 Census.
• The 84th Amendment (2001) extended the freeze until the first census taken after 2026.
• Census 2027 is that census. So it may open the door to a fresh delimitation of seats.
• Southern States worry. They slowed population growth and may lose seats in relative terms.

6How have exams tested the Census?

7What changed for Census 2027 in August 2026?

Current Affairs

What was notified on 14 August 2026?

• The Registrar General, Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan, notified 40 questions for Population Enumeration.
• They include whether a person is SC or ST, and their caste.
• There are 13 new questions or data fields. Census 2011 had 29 questions.

(Source: The Hindu)

Where does the count stand?

• In snow-bound areas, Self-Enumeration ran from 17 to 31 August 2026.
• House-to-house counting there ran from 1 to 30 September 2026.
• By mid-August, Houselisting had ended in most States. West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Tamil Nadu were still going.
• Houselisting must end across India by 30 September 2026.

(Source: The Hindu)

Quick Q&A

• When was the first census attempted in India? 1872, under Lord Mayo.
• Which law governs the Census? The Census Act, 1948.
• How many questions are asked of each person in Census 2027? 40, including caste.
• When was caste last counted for all communities? 1931.
• Which census will end the freeze on Lok Sabha seat numbers? The first census taken after 2026, that is, Census 2027.