NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Friday approved the proposal for conducting the Census of India 2027, the world’s largest administrative and statistical exercise, at a cost of ₹11,718.24 crore.
Briefing the media, Union I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Census 2027 will be the 16th Census overall and the 8th since Independence.
Census 2027 will also be India’s first-ever digital census, designed with strong data protection measures, he noted.
Two-Phase Operation
The Census will be conducted in two phases:
- Houselisting & Housing Census: April–September 2026
- Population Enumeration (PE): February 2027
- In Ladakh, snow-bound regions of J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, PE will be carried out in September 2026
Nearly 30 lakh field functionaries will be deployed to conduct the massive exercise.
Digital-First Approach
An official release said the 2027 Census marks a technological transformation in data collection and dissemination.
Key features include:
- A mobile app for data collection (Android & iOS)
- A Central portal for real-time monitoring
- A Census Management & Monitoring System (CMMS)
- Houselisting Block (HLB) Creator web map tool for Charge Officers
- Option for self-enumeration for the public
- Strong digital security provisions
Caste Enumeration Included
The Census will also include caste enumeration, following the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs’ decision on April 30 this year. Caste data will be captured electronically during the Population Enumeration phase.
Massive Workforce & Employment Generation
Around 30 lakh personnel—including enumerators, supervisors, master trainers, and census officers—will conduct the exercise alongside their regular duties, receiving an honorarium for the work.
Additionally, 18,600 technical staff will be hired for about 550 days, generating nearly 1.02 crore man-days of employment.
Faster, User-Friendly Data Access
The digital format will enable:
- Quicker release of Census data
- Customized data visualization tools
- Census-as-a-Service (CaaS) for ministries in machine-readable formats
- Access to data down to the village/ward level
Legal Framework
The Census will be conducted under the Census Act, 1948, and Census Rules, 1990.
The Cabinet meeting approving the proposal was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
