Government Issues Notification for First Phase of Census of India 2027: All You Need to Know

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has released the notification for the Census of India 2027. The government declared the timeline for the first phase of the first phase, which was originally scheduled for 2021 but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is set to be a historical milestone as India’s first-ever digital census. 

The 16th Census 2027 will be conducted in two distinct phases. The first phase will run from April 1, 2026, to September 30, 2026. The first phase focuses on the infrastructure and housing landscape, while the second phase will cover the Population Enumeration (PE)/Demographic Figures of India in February 2027. 

First Phase of Census 2027: Houselisting and Housing Census

The first phase of the census will be conducted over a six-month window from April 1, 2026, to September 2026. It covers the houselisting and housing census, with the primary focus being to identify and number every building, house and household across the country to create a sound frame for the subsequent population count and serve as the foundation for the entire 2027 census.  

Operational Timeline and Schedule:

The first phase will be conducted over a six-month window; it will cover all states and Union Territories during a 30-day period specified by each state/UT. The notification issued by the Home Ministry stated that provision for self-enumeration will be available for a period of 15 days prior to the commencement of house-to-house listing as per the schedule notified by each state/UT.

• National Window: April 1, 2026 to September 30, 2026

• Local Time Duration: Each State/UT has the authority to choose a specific 30-day window within this six-month period to conduct the field operations.

• Administrative Freeze: To ensure data accuracy, all administrative boundaries (districts, tehsils, villages) have been frozen as of December 31, 2025, and will remain unchanged until the exercise concludes.

What Data Will Be Collected?

As per the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notification, the first phase will focus on the living standards and infrastructure of households. It does not collect individual personal data like age or occupation; it include the various parameters such as

Who Will Conduct the First Phase?

Around 30 lakh field functionaries, such as government teachers and local officials, will be deployed. They will visit every structure in their assigned "Houselisting Block" (HLB) to verify self-enumerated data or collect new data using their mobile devices.

Note: The census will be conducted under the Census Act of 1948, all information collected during the census will be confidential. It cannot be used as evidence in a court of law or shared with any other agency. The data is used solely for national planning and policy formulation.

Important Checklist for Citizens:

• Check your state's specific 30-day window (likely to be announced by February 2026).

• Keep your mobile number ready for the self-enumeration portal to save time.

• Prepare basic information about your house construction and household assets.

Phase 2: Population Enumeration (PE):

• Timeline: February 2027 will be completed by March 1, 2027

• Coverage: It will collect individual-level data including age, religion, education, occupation, gender and migration.

• Snow-bound Areas: For the Union Territory of Ladakh and snow-bound non-synchronous areas of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the population enumeration will be conducted in September 2026. 

What are the new features of Census 2027? 

The 16th Census 2027 introduces several "firsts" aimed at increasing accuracy and reducing the time required for data processing. It will be the conducted digitally and entirely paperless, where data will be collected using specialised mobile applications that will be available for both Android and iOS versions. It will also include 

• Self-Enumeration: A 15-day window will open just before the 30-day field exercise in your state. Citizens have the option to fill in their own housing details. You can submit data via the Census Portal and receive a unique ID to show the enumerator during their visit.

• Houselisting Block (HLB) Creator App: Charge officers will use a "Houselisting Block Creator" web map application. This uses satellite imagery to digitally map enumeration blocks, replacing the hand-drawn maps used in 2011.

• Real-time Monitoring: Data will be collected via smartphones and uploaded to a central server. It will also allow for instant error detection and progress tracking through the Census Management & Monitoring System (CMMS).

• Digital Data Collection: Moving away from traditional paper forms to digital, over 30 lakh field functionaries (Includes enumerators, supervisors, master trainers, charge officers and principal or district census officers, who will be deployed for data collection, monitoring and supervision of census operations). will use mobile applications (Android and iOS) to record data.

• Self-Enumeration Option: For the first time, citizens can fill in their details through a dedicated portal. This 15-day self-enumeration window opens just before the house-to-house visit starts in a particular area.

• Caste Enumeration: the government has confirmed that the 2027 Census will capture caste data electronically during the second phase. This is the first such kind of comprehensive count since 1931.

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What is the budget allocation for the census 2027?

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a massive budget of ₹11,718.24 crore for this project. To ensure smooth execution: 

1. Approximately 18,600 technical staff will be deployed.

2. A new model, Census-as-a-Service (CaaS), to deliver clean, machine-readable data to various ministries for immediate policy application.

3. The exercise is conducted under the Census Act, 1948, and the Census Rules, 1990, ensuring that all individual data remains strictly confidential.

Why Census 2027 Matters? 

The census is not just a headcount; it will serve as the foundation for:

• Delimitation Commission: The data will be crucial for redrawing Lok Sabha and Assembly constituency boundaries across the country. 

• Women's Reservation: The Women's Reservation Act, 2023 (the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act), the 33% reservation for women in legislatures, will be implemented based on the 2027 census. 

• Policy Planning and Execution: Updated data on migration, urbanisation, gender and  literacy will help refine welfare schemes like the National Food Security Act and VB-G RAM G. 

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