Centre Notifies First Phase of Census of India 2027
The Centre has issued a notification for the first phase of the Census of India 2027, marking the formal beginning of the nationwide data collection exercise. According to the notification released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the house-listing and housing census will be carried out across all States and Union Territories between 1 April and 30 September, during the 30 days specified individually by each State or UT.
The notification also states that a self-enumeration facility will be provided for 15 days before the commencement of the house-to-house listing process, as per the schedule notified by respective State and Union Territory administrations.
Significantly, the Census of India 2027 will be the first fully digital census in the country. Data will be collected using mobile applications compatible with both Android and iOS platforms, marking a major technological shift from previous census exercises.
To ensure smooth execution, around 30 lakh field functionaries will be deployed nationwide. These include Enumerators, Supervisors, Master Trainers, Charge Officers, and District or Principal Census Officers, who will be responsible for data collection, monitoring, and supervision of census operations.
The census will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, comprising the Houselisting and Housing Census, will take place between April and September 2026. The second phase, known as Population Enumeration (PE), is scheduled for February 2027. However, for the Union Territory of Ladakh and snow-bound, non-synchronous areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, population enumeration will be conducted earlier, in September this year.
Earlier, on the 12th of last month, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the scheme for conducting the Census of India 2027 at an estimated cost of ₹11,718.24 crore. Additionally, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, in its meeting held on 30 April last year, decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census, making it a significant and closely watched national exercise.
