Centre notifies two-phase caste census: Begins October 2026 in snow-bound areas, nationwide rollout in March 2027

Case Census news: The Union Government has officially issued a notification for conducting a nationwide caste-based census, marking the launch of India’s first decadal population exercise in 16 years. The two-phase enumeration will begin on October 1, 2026, in snow-bound regions such as Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, while the rest of the country will witness the exercise starting March 1, 2027.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the reference date for the census will be 00:00 hours on March 1, 2027, except for high-altitude or snow-bound areas, where it will be 00:00 hours on October 1, 2026.

This will be India's first census since 2011, as the 2021 edition was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The upcoming census is expected to be one of the largest data collection exercises globally, involving around 34 lakh enumerators and supervisors, supported by 1.3 lakh digital census functionaries equipped with smart devices.

The 2027 census will follow a two-phase structure: Houselisting Operations (HLO): Data on housing conditions, ownership, amenities, and assets will be recorded. Population Enumeration (PE): Detailed information regarding the demographic, social, cultural, and economic status of every individual in the household will be collected.

A key feature of Census 2027 will be the Self-Enumeration (SE) Portal, a secure digital interface developed by the Office of the Registrar General of India (ORGI). This platform will enable citizens to log in using a registered mobile number and OTP authentication to: View and update family member details; add new members and mark members as moved out or deceased.

The portal will close shortly before the enumeration begins in each region, ensuring that enumerators and government officials work with the most up-to-date household data.

Officials said robust data security protocols would be enforced during data collection, transmission, and storage to safeguard personal information.