The Union Cabinet on Friday cleared a budget of ₹11,718 crore for conducting the Census in 2027. Announcing the decision, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described the Census as “an important exercise for India,” highlighting its role in shaping policies and welfare measures.
The last Census took place in 2011, while the 2021 edition was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government has now officially set March 1, 2027, at 00:00 hours as the reference date for the next enumeration.
Vaishnaw also noted that India has kept continuous Census records for more than 150 years, calling it a crucial national database. Census 2027 will be the 16th Census overall and the eighth since Independence, collecting detailed information on population, housing, amenities, education, economic activity, migration and more. It follows the Census Act, 1948, and the Census Rules, 1990.
Why Is India Conducting Its Next Census in 2027 After a 16-Year Gap?
The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the 2021 Census, creating the longest gap ever between two national enumerations. The 2027 schedule is designed to ensure thorough preparation, smooth coordination with states and the rollout of new digital systems.
How Will the Two Phases of Census 2027 Be Conducted?
The exercise, notified in the Gazette on June 16, 2025, will take place in two major phases:
Phase I – House Listing and Housing Census:
To be held between April and September 2026 over a 30-day period, depending on each State/UT’s convenience.
Phase II – Population Enumeration:
Slated for February 2027 across most of India.
Why Will Some Himalayan Regions Complete Enumeration Earlier?
In Ladakh, and snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the Population Enumeration will be carried out in September 2026 because of harsh winter conditions that make February operations difficult.
What Makes Census 2027 India’s First Fully Digital Census?
Vaishnaw confirmed that Census 2027 will be India’s first fully digital exercise, with data collected using mobile apps on both Android and iOS devices. The entire process will be monitored in real time through the newly developed Census Management & Monitoring System (CMMS) portal.
What New Digital Tools and Features Will Be Used in the 2027 Census?
The government is introducing innovations such as:
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Houselisting Block Creator web map tool
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Self-enumeration option for citizens
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Census-as-a-Service (CaaS) to deliver clean and machine-readable data to ministries
How Will Caste Enumeration Be Integrated Into the Upcoming Census?
The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has approved the inclusion of caste enumeration. Caste-related details will be collected electronically during the Population Enumeration phase—marking the first time caste will be digitally captured in an official decennial Census in independent India.
How Will the Government Ensure Awareness, Inclusion and Smooth Field Operations?
Census 2027 will have an extensive national outreach campaign to ensure:
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Public awareness
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Inclusive participation
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Last-mile engagement
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Smooth field operations
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Accurate and timely information-sharing
Why Does Census 2027 Require 30 Lakh Field Staff and 1.02 Crore Man-Days of Work?
The scale of the Census requires nearly 30 lakh field functionaries, including enumerators, supervisors, district-level officers and master trainers. Most enumerators will be government school teachers who will handle Census responsibilities alongside regular duties. All personnel will receive honorariums.
The government estimates the exercise will generate 1.02 crore man-days of employment, with more than 18,600 technical staff working for around 550 days on digital operations, monitoring and data handling. This is expected to build long-term technical capacity and improve future employment prospects.