India’s First Digital Census to Conclude by March 2027, Includes Caste Enumeration

In a landmark move, the Government of India has announced that the next national Census — the first to be conducted in 16 years — will be completed by March 1, 2027. Marking a significant shift, this will also be India’s first-ever digital Census, and the first in Independent India to include caste enumeration beyond Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. A Census After 16 YearsThe last Census was held in 2011, and the scheduled 2021 exercise was indefinitely postponed, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The upcoming Census will be executed in two phases: the house listing and housing schedule, followed by population enumeration.According to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the reference date for most parts of the country will be 12 a.m. on March 1, 2027, while for snow-bound regions like Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be October 1, 2026.First Digital, First Caste-Inclusive CensusThis Census will be entirely digital, conducted through a mobile application. Around 30 lakh enumerators, including government school teachers, will be trained afresh to handle this massive task. Citizens may also get the option to self-enumerate online through a portal initially developed for the 2021 Census, provided their households have updated their National Population Register (NPR) online.For the first time, castes across the social spectrum will be recorded, not just SC and ST categories. This decision was approved by the Union Cabinet on April 30, 2024. A new “drop box” to record caste names will be added to the digital forms used by enumerators. Timeline and StructureThe Census will be carried out under the Census Act, 1948, and the Census Rules, 1990. The notification to begin the process is expected to be published in the Official Gazette on June 16, 2025. Around 24 lakh enumeration blocks, initially prepared for the 2021 Census, will be reused, each covering 150–180 households or 650–800 individuals.This massive exercise is expected to unfold over 11 months, typically from April 1 to February 28, covering both phases of the survey. Political and Social ImpactThe upcoming Census holds major political implications. As per constitutional mandates, the first Census after 2026 will be used for redrawing Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies, which are currently based on 1971 Census data. Additionally, it is likely to influence the implementation of the 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.No NPR Update YetWhile the NPR (National Population Register) was initially scheduled for an update during the 2021 Census, there has been no announcement on its inclusion this time. The NPR is viewed as the first step toward creating a National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC/NRC), as per the Citizenship Rules, 2003.