India Census 2027 faces scrutiny over timing and caste methodology

India is preparing for a nationwide census scheduled to begin on October 1 in the western Himalayan regions, including Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, with the rest of the country to follow in February 2027.

Critics have raised concerns regarding the timing and methodology of the exercise. The decision to conduct the census in 2026, with a reference date of March 1, 2027, deviates from the traditional decennial practice of conducting censuses in the first year of a decade. Some observers suggest this timing may be linked to the Delimitation Act, aiming to complete the count before the 2029 general elections.

There is also significant debate regarding the inclusion of caste data. Although the government previously announced it would count caste, it has reportedly decided to use the same methodology employed during the 2011 census. Critics argue this approach is flawed and may result in unreliable data, noting that previous efforts were considered too faulty for release, whereas recent state-level surveys in Bihar and Telangana have utilized different models.