MHA notifies Census 2027 schedule, lists 33 questions
The central government on Thursday issued a notification for the 2027 Census. It includes 33 questions covering topics such as houses, families and vehicles. The head of the household will be required to provide these details during the census.
Earlier, the government said the census would be carried out in two phases. The first phase will run from April to September 2026 and will focus on listing houses and collecting housing data. The second phase will begin in February 2027 and will involve counting the population.
The Union Home Ministry (MHA) said on January 8 that the first phase of the 2027 Census will be carried out between April 1 and September 30. Each state and union territory will complete this work within 30 days in their respective area.
The government also said people will have the option to fill in their details themselves (self-enumeration) 15 days before house listing begins. The census was originally due in 2021 but was postponed because of the Covid pandemic and will now be completed in 2027.
The government said the entire census will be conducted digitally. Around 30 lakh workers will collect data using mobile apps. With mobile apps, online portals and real-time data transfer, the process will be largely paperless.
The apps will work on both Android and iOS devices. Caste-related data will also be collected digitally. For the first time since Independence, caste counting will be included in the census. Earlier, caste-based counting was last done in 1931 during British rule.