India's 16th Census 2027 Announced – To Include Caste and Go Fully Digital
The Indian government has officially notified the 16th National Census to be conducted in 2027, 16 years after the last census in 2011. This will be India's first fully digital census, and for the first time since independence, caste enumeration will also be included.
The reference date for the census will be October 1, 2026 for snow-covered regions like Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, while for the rest of the country, it will be March 1, 2027.
The large-scale operation will involve 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors using digital tools. The estimated expenditure is around ₹13,000 crore.
This will be the 16th census since the process began in India and the 8th since independence. The census is listed as Entry 69 in the Union List under Article 246 of the Indian Constitution.
A major change in this census is the inclusion of caste data, a move approved by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 30, 2025.
Previously, the UPA government conducted the SECC (Socio-Economic and Caste Census) in 2011, but its data was never fully published or used. States like Bihar and Telangana have recently conducted their own caste-based surveys.
Phases of Census 2027
The census will be conducted in two phases:
- Phase 1 – House Listing Operation (HLO): Details on housing, ownership, facilities.
- Phase 2 – Population Enumeration (PE): Demographic, socio-economic, and cultural details of each person.
Self Enumeration & Data Security
Citizens will also be allowed to participate via self-enumeration. Strict data security protocols will be applied for collection, transmission, and storage of census data.
As of the 2011 Census, India’s population was 1.21 billion, with 51.54% male and 48.46% female population.
The 2021 Census was scheduled but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Though it was to include NPR (National Population Register) updates, it’s unclear if NPR will be part of the 2027 process.
Enumerator training may begin by October 2025, with listing operations possibly starting by April 2026.
Survey Questions
Respondents will answer nearly three dozen questions, including:
- Do you use a telephone or internet?
- What type of vehicles do you own?
- What kind of grains do you consume?
- What is your source of water?
- Is the head of the household female, SC or ST?