- First fully digital census with mobile app and online self-enumeration.
- To include caste enumeration for all communities.
- More than 35 lakh field functionaries to be trained across India.
- Cabinet had approved the scheme of Conduct of Census of India 2027 at a cost of Rs.11,718.24 crore
The first phase of the decennial Indian Census, officially known as Census 2027, is scheduled to take place this year across India between April 1 and September 30, 2026.
After being delayed from its original 2021 timeline due to the pandemic, the notification for formal schedule for the exercise was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on January 7, 2026.
Phase 1: House-listing and Housing Census
The first phase focuses on the infrastructure and assets of households rather than individual population counts.
Timeline: It will be conducted across India between April 1 and September 30, 2026.
Execution: Each State and Union Territory (UT) will choose a specific 30-day window within this six-month period to carry out the operations.
Key Data Collected: Enumerators will collect information on housing conditions (building materials, number of rooms), available amenities (drinking water, electricity, toilets), and household assets (TVs, vehicles, internet access).
Self-Enumeration: For the first time, citizens have a self-enumeration option. This allows you to fill in your details digitally via a mobile app or portal during a 15-day window immediately preceding the house-to-house visit in your area.
Key Highlights of the 2027 Census
First Digital Census: Data will be collected via mobile apps (Android/iOS) instead of paper forms.
Caste Enumeration: The upcoming census will include a count of caste identities for the first time in independent India.
In April 2025, the Cabinet Committee had decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming Census, which is the 16th official population count in India and the eighth after after independence.
Approximately 30 lakh (3 million) enumerators and supervisors (mostly government teachers) will be involved.
Snow-Bound Areas In remote areas like Ladakh and parts of Himachal Pradesh/Uttarakhand, enumeration starts earlier (October 2026).
The Second Phase (Population Enumeration)—where actual population data like age, religion, education, and occupation are recorded—is scheduled for February 2027, with the official reference date being March 1, 2027.
The Indian Census is the largest single source of various statistical information on various characteristics of the people of India. With a history of more than 150 years, this reliable, time-tested exercise is bringing in a real insight into population data every 10 years.
Beginning in the year 1872, the first census was conducted at different times in different parts of India. The Indian Census has been a useful source of data for scholars and researchers in demography, economics, anthropology, sociology, statistics and many other disciplines. The rich diversity of India's people is revealed by the decadal census, which has become a tool for understanding and studying India.
