The Government of India has announced that Census 2027 will be conducted in two phases, marking the country’s first fully digital census exercise. The first phase will cover houselisting and housing data collection, while the second will focus on population enumeration.
According to officials, the houselisting and housing census will be carried out between April and September 2026. This phase will gather information on housing conditions, household amenities, and assets. The population enumeration will follow in February 2027, recording details such as age, sex, literacy, occupation, and disability.
Special arrangements have been made for snow-bound regions including Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, where population enumeration will be conducted earlier in September 2026 due to weather constraints. The reference date for most of India will be March 1, 2027, while for Ladakh and other snow-bound areas it will be October 1, 2026.
The Union Cabinet has approved a budget of ₹11,718.24 crore for the exercise, which will involve nearly 30 lakh field functionaries. Officials emphasized that the digital format will improve accuracy, efficiency, and transparency in data collection, though challenges remain in ensuring smooth operations across diverse terrains and regions.
Census 2027 will be India’s 16th national census, covering over 1.4 billion people, and is expected to play a crucial role in shaping future policies on housing, healthcare, education, and welfare schemes.
