India To Conduct Census After Years Of Delay, Digital Data Collection Planned

NEW DELHI -The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on December 12 approved the proposal to conduct the Census of India 2027 at an estimated cost of Rs 11,718.24 crore. Significantly, it will include questions on caste.

Census 2027 will be the 16th national census and the 8th since Independence. The exercise remains India’s most comprehensive source of primary demographic, social, and economic data.

The census will be carried out in two phases. The House listing and Housing Census will take place from April to September 2026, followed by the Population Enumeration in February 2027. Due to weather constraints, the Population Enumeration will be conducted earlier in September 2026 for the Union Territory of Ladakh and snow-bound areas of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

Nearly 30 lakh field functionaries, including enumerators, supervisors, master trainers, and census officers, will participate in the operation. For the first time, data will be collected through mobile applications available on Android and iOS platforms.

For the first time, citizens will also have the option to self-enumerate via a secure online platform. The government has assured that the digital exercise will incorporate robust security features to protect personal data.  (IANS)