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Census 2027 Kicks Off With Rs 6,000 Crore Budget
1 Feb
Summary
- Union Budget allocates Rs 6,000 crore for Census 2027, a significant increase.
- The decadal census, delayed by COVID-19, will begin April 1, 2027.
- Census 2027 will be fully digital, including caste enumeration and self-enumeration options.
The Union Budget has earmarked Rs 6,000 crore for Census 2027, a notable increase from previous allocations, signaling the commencement of India's 16th population head count. This significant undertaking, originally scheduled for 2021, faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is now set to begin on April 1, 2027.
The reference date for the Census will be March 1, 2027, for most of the country, while snow-bound regions like Ladakh will use an earlier reference date of October 1, 2026. The Census will be conducted by approximately 30 lakh enumerators and supervisors utilizing digital devices, reflecting a move towards modernization.
This decadal exercise will encompass two phases: a Houselisting Operation (HLO) to gather data on housing conditions and assets, followed by Population Enumeration (PE) to collect demographic and socio-economic details. Notably, caste enumeration will be integrated into the second phase. The government has also allocated Rs 11,718 crore for this modernized Census, which will offer a digital, fully-funded, and self-enumeration option for citizens.
