Census To Begin From March 1, 2027, Caste Data In Some States From October 2026

New Delhi: The population Census, a once-in-a-decade exercise to assess the country’s population size and demographic details, will commence from March 1, 2027. This upcoming census will also include caste-based data collection, with the process set to begin in October 2026 in select states.

Caste data collection to begin in October 2026

The collection of caste-related data is expected to start in October 2026 in certain States and Union Territories, including Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.

Two-phase census process

The 2027 population census will be conducted in two phases, featuring distinct sets of questions for men and women to ensure comprehensive data collection.

Government’s statement on census 

The Press Information Bureau in a statement has announced that the census 2027 will follow a two-phase approach alongside caste enumeration. The official reference date for the census will be 12:00 AM, March 1, 2027.

For Ladakh and non-synchronous snow-bound regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be 12:00 AM, October 1, 2026.

A formal notification regarding the intent to conduct the 2027 population census, will be published in the official gazette tentatively on June 16, 2025, in accordance with Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948.

Census Act of 1948

India’s census is carried out under the provisions of the Census Act, 1948, and the Census Rules, 1990.

The last census of India took place in 2011. The 2011 census also took place in two phases: 

• Phase I – House Listing (April 1 – September 30, 2010)
• Phase II – Population Enumeration (February 9 – February 28, 2011) 

Reference date for the previous census was 12:00 AM, March 1, 2011, except in snow-bound non-synchronous areas (Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh), where it was conducted between September 11 – September 30, 2010, with a reference date of 12:00 AM, October 1, 2010.

Upcoming census originally planned for 2020-2021

The 2021 Census was initially planned in two phases but due to Covid, the exercise was postponed. 

• Phase I was planned for April–September 2020
• Phase II was planned for February 2021

All preparations for the first phase of Census 2021 were completed, and fieldwork was scheduled to begin in some States/UTs on April 1, 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the census process was postponed.