The Government of India has officially issued a notification to conduct the Census of India 2027, marking the country’s 16th national Census and the eighth since independence. The notification, released by the Ministry of Home Affairs on June 16, 2025, outlines timelines, processes, and coverage for the massive national data collection effort.
Reference Dates Finalized
According to the Gazette notification (S.O. 2681(E)), the reference date for the census will be:
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March 1, 2027 – For most of India
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October 1, 2026 – For snow-bound and non-synchronous areas in Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand
Two-Phase Census Operation
The Census will be conducted in two major phases:
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Houselisting Operation (HLO)
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Data on housing conditions, household assets, and available amenities.
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Population Enumeration (PE)
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Demographic, socio-economic, and cultural details of every individual.
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✅ Caste enumeration will also be conducted.
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📱 Digital First: Mobile App & Self-Enrolment
This will be the first fully digital Census in India:
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Data will be collected using mobile applications.
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Citizens will have access to self-enumeration options online.
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Stringent data security protocols will be implemented to protect data during collection, transmission, and storage.
Massive Workforce Deployed
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Around 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors
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Nearly 1.3 lakh Census functionaries
These personnel will be trained and deployed nationwide to ensure seamless operations.
🛑 Fake News Alert: Caste Enumeration Is Confirmed
In response to misleading social media posts claiming that caste enumeration is being excluded, the PIB Fact Check team confirmed that such claims are false.
✅ Caste data will be collected in Census 2027, as announced by the government.
