The Indian government has greenlit Rs 11,718 crore for conducting Census 2027, a two-phase exercise that will embrace digital technology and, for the first time, include a caste count. The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal, marking a significant step towards modernizing the country's demographic data system.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that Census 2027 would be the first-ever digital census, offering citizens the option of self-enumeration. This transformative approach will leverage mobile applications compatible with both Android and iOS for data collection, along with a central portal, the Census Management & Monitoring System (CMMS), to ensure real-time tracking and better data quality. The CMMS portal will enhance transparency and oversight throughout the census process.

The census will unfold in two phases:

• Phase I: House Listing and Housing Census (April - September 2026): This phase will involve collecting data on housing conditions and available amenities. Each state will have a 30-day window to complete this exercise, providing flexibility in the schedule.
• Phase II: Population Enumeration (February 2027): This phase will gather data on demographic, socio-cultural, and economic parameters, including age and other individual details. The reference date for this phase is set as March 1, 2027, at 00:00 hours.

For Ladakh and other snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the Population Enumeration will be conducted in September 2026, with a reference date of October 1, 2026.

A significant aspect of Census 2027 is the inclusion of caste enumeration, a decision approved by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs in April 2025. This will be the first time in over 70 years that caste data will be collected as part of the census. The caste data will be captured electronically during the Population Enumeration phase.

The digital approach is expected to enhance the accuracy, speed, and transparency of the census. Enumerators will use specialized mobile applications, while citizens can opt for self-enumeration through a web portal. This is expected to reduce the workload on enumerators and encourage wider participation.

The census is also expected to generate significant employment, with approximately 30 lakh enumerators, largely government school teachers, involved in the house-to-house exercise. Around 18,600 technical personnel will be engaged for 550 days at local levels, creating approximately 1.02 crore man-days of work.

Furthermore, Census 2027 will extensively track migration patterns, providing valuable insights into mobility across the country. The census will record the place of birth, previous residence, duration of stay at the current location, and reasons for migration, including employment, education, and other personal factors.

The last census was conducted in 2011, and the exercise scheduled for 2021 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the results of Census 2027 will serve as a new compass for development, reflecting India's latest population data with greater accuracy.