Census 2027: The 2027 national census, considered one of the most extensive administrative and statistical projects globally, is scheduled to take place from April 2026 through February 2027. The Union Cabinet has approved a budget of Rs 11,718.24 crore to support the upcoming census.
The upcoming census will be conducted in two stages: a) house-listing from April to September 2026, followed by b) population counting until February 2027. The population enumeration in certain pockets of the country, like Ladakh, and parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, will occur in September 2026 due to the onset of winter.
To carry out this enormous task, approximately 3 million field workers will be deployed across the country. The government has also launched a dedicated website to oversee the process, ensuring that accurate and reliable information is collected throughout.
What’s New For Census 2027?
- It will be the first ‘digital’ census where the data will be collected using applications which will be available on both the Play Store and Apple’s App Store.
- A dedicated portal, the Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS), has been developed for managing and monitoring the entire process on a real-time basis.
- Another new technological innovation is the House-listing Block (HLB) creator web map application.
- A ‘self-enumeration’ feature will also be offered to the public, enabling individuals to participate directly.
- Strong security protocols have been put in place to ensure the protection of the collected data.
- The 2027 census will have a publicity campaign as well for nationwide awareness, inclusive participation, last-mile engagement, and support for field operations, as reported by NDTV, citing sources.
- It will also emphasise the sharing of accurate, authentic, and timely data to ensure maximum impact.
- Another key feature of this census is the inclusion of caste data, which will be digitally gathered during the second phase.
The census is expected to create substantial employment opportunities, generating approximately 1.02 crore man-days, which refers to the total number of workers multiplied by the hours they work, according to the government. Additionally, this initiative will contribute to skill development by providing workers with training in digital data management, monitoring, and coordination, enhancing their future employment prospects.
The 2027 census will be the sixteenth in the country (eighth after independence) and will represent the biggest source of primary data at village-, town-, and ward-levels.