India Sets Stage for 2027 Census With Major Budget Boost and First-All Digital Rollout

India has approved ₹11,718 crore for the fully digital 2027 Census, conducted in two phases from 2026–27 with 3 million workers. It will gather extensive demographic, housing and caste data, crucial for policy planning, welfare targeting, and future delimitation. The long delay since 2011 has impacted governance, making this digital rollout vital for accurate national decision-making.

India is preparing to launch what will be the world’s largest administrative data-gathering effort, as the Union Cabinet has approved a budget of ₹11,718.24 crore for the 2027 Census. This long-awaited national count — the 16th since the exercise began and the eighth in independent India — will bring a fully digital overhaul to the country’s demographic documentation system.

A Two‑Phase Operation

The government has finalized a two-step plan. The Houselisting and Housing Census will be carried out from April to September 2026, laying the groundwork for the more detailed Population Enumeration slated for February 2027. In snow-bound regions such as Ladakh and parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the population count will take place earlier in September 2026 to avoid weather-related disruptions.

During a briefing, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the scale of the operation, noting that nearly 3 million field workers will be deployed. He highlighted that while the last Census was conducted in 2011, the 2021 round had to be postponed due to the pandemic, making the upcoming exercise especially crucial.

India’s First Fully Digital Census

A major shift from past practices, the 2027 Census will be conducted entirely through digital tools. Data collectors will use mobile applications on Android and iOS devices, replacing traditional paper forms. The digital push is expected to streamline data entry, reduce errors, and speed up compilation.

The Census will gather comprehensive information on housing conditions, access to amenities, demographic characteristics, religion, caste, language use, migration patterns, and economic activity.

Notably, this edition will include detailed caste data beyond SC and ST categories for the first time since 1931. Earlier censuses post-Independence recorded only Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, making this a significant move for social policy and welfare

assessment.

Legal and Institutional Framework

The Census of India operates under the Census Act of 1948 and the Census Rules of 1990. It is administered by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Constitutionally, the Census falls under the Union List (Entry 69, Seventh Schedule, Article 246).

India’s first census was held in 1872 in a non-synchronous manner, with decennial rounds conducted consistently since 1881.

Why the Delay Matters

The prolonged postponement since 2011 has created major challenges across sectors:

• Government policies and welfare schemes rely on outdated population figures, affecting the targeting and efficiency of programmes like PDS and MGNREGS.

• Healthcare and education planning — including vaccination drives and school infrastructure — are impeded by inaccurate baseline numbers.

• Migration patterns and urban growth remain poorly mapped, complicating infrastructure and disaster-preparedness strategies.

• Marginalized groups, including the elderly, migrants, and informal workers, have evolved needs that existing data fails to reflect.

• The lack of updated data also affects the accuracy of electoral rolls and poses challenges for upcoming delimitation exercises.

A Crucial Census With Wide-Ranging Implications

The 2027 Census carries significant constitutional and governance implications:

• It will form the foundation for redrawing Lok Sabha and State Assembly constituencies, as mandated under Article 82. Delimitation has been frozen since 1976 and extended until 2026, making this the first census eligible for boundary revisions.

• Implementation of the 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies hinges on the completion of both the Census and delimitation processes.

• Updated caste data may influence future affirmative action policies by offering a clearer picture of the socio-economic status of OBC and other communities.

• The dataset will guide India’s development planning, enabling more accurate tracking of urbanization, literacy levels, economic activity, and access to essential services.

• It will help refine allocation of subsidies, improve targeting for welfare schemes, and support long-term planning across sectors from housing to transport.

With preparations underway and a substantial budget commitment, India is gearing up for a landmark exercise that will shape policy and governance for the next decade and beyond. The fully digital Census promises greater efficiency and accuracy, while the expanded scope — especially on housing and caste data — could significantly reshape the national understanding of demographic and social realities.

As the world’s largest population gears up for this monumental undertaking, the 2027 Census stands poised to redefine how India plans, allocates, and governs in the years ahead.