Explained: India's 2027 census to include caste count, trigger delimitation

India's 2027 census will be digital-first and include caste data nationwide for the first time since 1931, marking a major shift in the world's largest population count

After a nearly six-year delay, India’s decennial census is finally back on the agenda. It would be conducted in two phases along with the enumeration of castes. India’s population census is expected to be released on March 1, 2027. Here is everything known so far.

 

What is the census and why it matters

India’s census is the largest population count in the world, conducted every 10 years by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It collects detailed data on age, sex, language, religion, education, occupation, housing, and more, forming the bedrock of policy planning, welfare targeting, infrastructure development, and electoral boundary drawing.