India is embarking on a significant transformation for its national population count with the Census 2027, prioritizing digital integration and efficiency. A critical pre-test phase for the Houselisting and Housing Census is currently underway across the nation from November 10 to 30, 2025, serving as a foundational step to ensure the readiness of systems for the large-scale exercise.
Adding a new dimension to citizen involvement, the government has introduced a self-enumeration window, allowing individuals to submit their details digitally between November 1 and 7, 2025. This initiative is a cornerstone of making Census 2027 India’s first digital census. The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the application of the Census Act, 1948, to this preparatory stage.
The full Census 2027 will be executed in two main phases: Houselisting and Housing Schedule (HLO) starting April 1, 2026, and Population Enumeration (PE) running from April 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027. The pre-test serves as a comprehensive simulation, scrutinizing every element from the survey instruments and data collection software to the training manuals and the overall network infrastructure.
A noteworthy aspect of the 2027 Census is the inclusion of national-level caste enumeration for the first time, offering a deeper understanding of India’s social fabric. Phase 1 will concentrate on housing characteristics and available amenities, while Phase 2 will systematically record demographic, socio-economic, and cultural data for every individual. The Population Enumeration is slated to begin on February 1, 2027, with March 1, 2027, as the designated reference date.
This extensive operation will engage a colossal workforce exceeding 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors, bolstered by approximately 1.3 lakh Census officials nationwide. This will be the sixteenth Census conducted in India and the eighth since the country’s independence. The 2027 Census aims to rectify the data gap left by the postponement of the 2021 Census due to the pandemic, providing an up-to-date and technologically advanced profile essential for national planning and development.