According to government sources, the long-delayed national census and the caste enumeration process are expected to commence on March 1, 2027. The arrangements for this extensive population tally have apparently been set, indicating a major advancement in fulfilling a longstanding request.
Sources indicated that the Union government has outlined a preliminary timetable for the population and caste census, anticipating the initiative to begin across the country on March 1, 2027. In Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and Uttarakhand, the procedure is expected to commence sooner starting in October 2026.
Census to be conducted in two phases
The census will occur in two phases and will include a notable expansion to the extensive array of questions posed to individuals across the country – specifically regarding caste and sub-castes.
On April 30, the government verified that inquiries regarding caste – specifically, a count of different castes and sub-castes, along with the population in each – will be included in the upcoming census.
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Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had mentioned in April that the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs decided to incorporate caste enumeration in the upcoming census, describing it as a measure to promote social and economic empowerment and comprehensive national development.
The call for a countrywide caste census has been consistently made by the Congress, the INDIA coalition, and several regional parties. Recently, Karnataka, governed by Congress, carried out its own caste survey, which faced opposition from the Vokkaliga and Lingayat groups, who contended that the survey was not fairly representative.
The census, usually held every decade to refresh the National Population Register (NPR), was planned for 2021 but needed to be delayed because of the Covid pandemic. Now, the census cycle is anticipated to shift as well.
