Census 2027: MHA Sets Dates for Massive Population Enumeration Drive
The Ministry of Home Affairs has notified the schedule for Census 2027 population enumeration, including a first-ever comprehensive caste census.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has officially notified the schedule for the second phase of Census 2027 population enumeration, marking a critical milestone in India's effort to update its demographic data. Starting January 25, 2027, the government will launch a massive house-to-house exercise to collect detailed information from citizens across the country.
Key Dates and Deadlines
The population enumeration process is designed with multiple stages to ensure comprehensive data collection:
- Self-Enumeration: From January 10 to January 24, 2027, citizens will have the option to provide their details themselves before the official house visits begin.
- House-to-House Enumeration: The primary data collection phase will run from January 25 to February 28, 2027.
- Revisional Round: A follow-up round to correct errors or fill gaps will take place from March 1 to March 5, 2027.
- Reference Date: The official reference date for the census has been fixed at 00:00 hours on March 1, 2027.
Geographic Scope and Exceptions
While the exercise is planned for all states and Union Territories, certain areas are currently excluded from this specific schedule. The census will not be conducted during this window in:
- Manipur (until further declaration)
- Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand
- The Union Territory of Ladakh
- Snow-bound non-synchronous areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir
A Historic Shift: Comprehensive Caste Enumeration
One of the most significant aspects of Census 2027 is the introduction of comprehensive caste enumeration. For the first time since India's independence, the government will collect caste details across all communities. Previously, such systematic enumeration was limited to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (as seen in the 2011 Census).
This landmark decision was finalized by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs on April 30, 2025, aiming to provide a more detailed understanding of the country's social fabric.
Digital Transformation and Scale
Census 2027 is set to be India's first-ever digital census, moving away from traditional paper-based methods to digital tools for data collection. To support this technological leap and the sheer scale of the operation, the Central government has approved a budget outlay of Rs 11,718.24 crore.
What Data is Being Collected?
The census is being conducted in two distinct phases. The first phase, which commenced in April 2026, focused on house listing and housing conditions, including assets and amenities. The second phase—the population enumeration—will utilize a household schedule featuring 40 questions to gather individual-level data on:
- Age and marital status
- Religion and caste
- Education and employment
- Migration and disability status
- Other key demographic parameters
The Magnitude of the Exercise
The scale of this operation is immense, covering 36 states and Union Territories. The exercise will span across:
- 7,092 sub-districts
- 5,128 statutory towns
- 4,580 census towns
- Approximately 6.39 lakh villages