New Delhi: The Modi Cabinet has greenlit a budget of Rs 11,718 crore for conducting India's next census in 2027, a monumental undertaking poised to be the world's largest headcount. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decision following a Cabinet meeting on Friday, emphasizing the project's significance as the largest administrative and statistical exercise globally.
The census, officially designated as the Census of India 2027, will be the 16th Indian census. It will be conducted in two phases. The initial "house listing and housing census" phase is scheduled between April and September 2026. This will focus on gathering data on housing characteristics and amenities. Following this, the "population enumeration" phase will take place in February 2027, collecting demographic and socio-economic details of individuals. However, for the Union Territory of Ladakh, snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the population enumeration will be conducted in September 2026. The reference date for the population enumeration phase is set for March 1, 2027, except for the aforementioned regions where it will be October 1, 2026. Provisional results are expected by late 2027, with the final report anticipated by late 2028.
A key highlight of the 2027 census is its digital-first approach. It marks a shift from traditional paper-based methods to digital data collection. Enumerators will use mobile applications, compatible with both Android and iOS platforms, to gather data. A central Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS) portal has been developed to manage and monitor the entire process in real-time. The government will also introduce a Houselisting Block (HLB) Creator web map application to aid charge officers in planning and supervision. Furthermore, residents will have the option to self-enumerate through a government portal or mobile app.
In a historic move, the 2027 census will include a comprehensive caste enumeration for the first time since 1931. This is expected to provide valuable data for policy planning and resource allocation, addressing inequalities and promoting social justice.
The census data will be disseminated in a user-friendly format, with a "Census-as-a-Service (CaaS)" feature to deliver data to ministries in a clean, machine-readable, and actionable format. The government has assured that the provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act will be strictly followed to ensure the security of citizen's information.
The Registrar General of India (RGI) has directed all States and Union Territories to appoint census functionaries by January 15, 2026. Approximately 30 lakh field functionaries, typically government teachers, will be deployed to conduct the population count across the country. The enumerators will visit every household and canvass separate questionnaires for the Houselisting & Housing Census and Population Enumeration. The data collected will form the basis for the delimitation of Lok Sabha and State Assembly constituencies, as mandated by Article 82 of the Constitution.
