Preparations are in full swing for India’s upcoming Census in 2027, marking a significant leap towards a digital population count. A crucial pre-test phase is currently being conducted nationwide from November 10 to 30, 2025. This preliminary exercise will evaluate the operational readiness for the Houselisting and Housing Census, a vital first step before the main enumeration begins.
The government has announced an innovative self-enumeration window for citizens, allowing them to submit personal details digitally between November 1 and 7, 2025. This digital option aims to streamline data collection and enhance public participation in what is set to be India’s first digital census. The Ministry of Home Affairs has invoked provisions of the Census Act, 1948, to facilitate this preparatory stage.
The full Census 2027 will be carried out in two major phases: Houselisting and Housing Schedule (HLO) from April 1, 2026, and Population Enumeration (PE) between April 1, 2026, and February 28, 2027. The pre-test is critical for refining digital platforms, survey methodologies, training programs, and logistical planning. For the first time, the Census will also include an enumeration of caste at the national level, promising a more comprehensive demographic profile.
Phase 1 will focus on housing conditions and amenities, while Phase 2 will gather detailed demographic, socio-economic, and cultural information. The Population Enumeration is slated to commence on February 1, 2027, with March 1, 2027, serving as the general reference date. Special reference dates are set for snow-bound regions.
This massive undertaking will mobilize over 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors, supported by 1.3 lakh officials, making it one of the largest administrative efforts in the country. This will be the sixteenth national Census and the eighth since India’s independence. The previous Census was conducted in 2011, with the 2021 count postponed due to the pandemic. The 2027 Census is poised to deliver an unprecedentedly detailed and technologically advanced dataset to guide future policy decisions in critical areas like health, education, and economic planning.
