The Indian government will launch its first digital census in 2027. Citizens will be able to self-register their information through a web portal. A caste census will also be included in this process.
Digital Census: The Government of India has begun preparations for the census to be held in 2027. This time's census will be special in many ways as it will be the country's first digital census. Citizens will be able to register themselves through a web portal. Additionally, caste data will also be included in this process. The government claims that the use of technology will make data more accurate, secure, and available faster.
First-time digital and self-enumeration facility
For the first time in the census process in India, ordinary citizens are being given the opportunity to conduct their own enumeration. For this, the government is going to launch a special web portal which will be available for both phases. With the help of this portal, people can register information about their families from their homes. In addition, a mobile app will also be provided, which will run on both Android and Apple platforms.
Census officers will also collect data by visiting homes through this mobile app. This change will be more accurate and time-saving compared to the traditional pen-paper system.
Caste census will also be included
Another important aspect has been added to this time's census, the caste census. The last full caste census was conducted in 1931. In the 2027 census, information about the caste of each individual will also be collected. Its aim is to understand the real situation of various social classes and their needs so that plans can be made according to the ground reality.
Dates and phases of the census process
The 2027 census will be conducted in two phases:
Phase 1 — House Listing Operations (HLO):
Commencement: April 1, 2026
Objective: To collect details of each house, such as the type of house, water-electricity-sanitation facilities, etc.
Phase 2 — Population Enumeration:
Commencement: February 1, 2027
Objective: To collect information related to the name, age, gender, education, occupation, and caste of each individual.
Reference date: For most parts of India: March 1, 2027
For hilly states and union territories (such as Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh): October 1, 2026
Special importance will be given to data security
The government has made it clear that the security of citizens' information will be the top priority. Strong security measures will be adopted at every level of data collection, transmission, and storage in this digital census. All information will be stored on the server in encrypted form, so there is no possibility of data leakage or misuse.
Why is the census necessary?
The census is the foundation for social, economic, and population-related policy decisions of any country. It helps the government to know how many people are in which area, which class is getting how many facilities, and where improvements are needed. Based on this, schemes like education, health, employment, housing, water supply, and social welfare are planned.
