< Back to all clusters
[POLITICS] · India · 9 sources

started · updated

India Census 2027 to include caste enumeration for all communities

The Indian government has notified a new set of 40 questions for the 2027 Census population enumeration phase, marking a significant shift in the country's demographic data collection. For the first time since independence, the census will include caste enumeration for all communities, moving beyond the previous practice of only identifying Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The caste question will be presented in an open-ended format, allowing respondents to declare their specific caste or sub-caste, which enumerators will record directly. The expanded questionnaire also introduces 13 new questions compared to the 2011 Census, seeking data on Aadhaar numbers, mobile numbers, Voter IDs, passports, driving licenses, bank accounts, and COVID-19 vaccination status.

Preparations are already underway, with self-enumeration beginning on August 17 in Ladakh and snow-bound regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. The nationwide population enumeration phase is scheduled to take place in February 2027. This upcoming census will also be conducted using digital tools and a dedicated mobile application for the first time.

Entities

Government of India · India · Ladakh · Ministry of Home Affairs · Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan · Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India · Registrar General of India

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.