New Delhi
The Government of India has officially initiated the process for Census 2027, marking the country’s first population count since 2011. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) released a notification on Monday, confirming that this decennial exercise will also include caste-based enumeration for the first time in independent India’s history.
According to the MHA notification, the reference date for most of the country will be March 1, 2027, while for snow-bound regions—including Ladakh, parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand—it will be October 1, 2026. These adjustments accommodate harsh weather conditions that affect accessibility and data collection in these regions.
This will be the 16th national census, the last one being conducted in 2010–2011 under the Congress-led UPA government. That count recorded India’s population at approximately 1.21 billion. The 2021 census was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making this the longest gap between two census operations in Indian history.
Significantly, the inclusion of caste enumeration aligns with growing political and social demand for updated data on caste demographics. The move is expected to have major implications for policy planning, affirmative action programs, and resource distribution.
The government is expected to roll out a digital framework for data collection, enhancing transparency and efficiency. Training for census personnel and preparatory mapping is also set to begin later this year. With this step, India embarks on one of the largest demographic exercises in the world, impacting governance, development, and electoral politics for years to come.
