NEW DELHI: The Indian government has announced that it will undertake the first phase of the Population Census 2027, termed the houselisting operations (HLO), from April 1 to September 30, 2026. This crucial phase aims to digitize the data collection process and will for the first time include a caste enumeration, marking a significant step in India's demographic assessment.

The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, released a notification stating that the HLO phase will be executed in each State over a 30-day period, with specific dates to be finalized by local state authorities. In an innovative approach, the census will allow for self-enumeration starting 15 days before the HLO phase commences, enabling residents to contribute their data directly.

Narayan emphasized the importance of this census, noting, “The houselisting operations of the Census of India 2027 represent a new era in our demographic counting methods, incorporating digital tools for accurate data collection while highlighting caste identities.” With around 30 lakh field functionaries, comprising enumerators and supervisors, set to be deployed, the censuses aim to maintain rigorous oversight throughout the data collection process. This includes monitoring to ensure that comprehensive data is accurately recorded.

The preparatory phase for the census was conducted last year, covering various household factors such as the type of roofing material, primary food sources, and availability of basic amenities. The main population enumeration phase is scheduled for February 2027, where caste information will be formally documented in the national data set for the first time since India's independence.

The Cabinet Committee's decision in April 2025 to include caste enumeration is particularly noteworthy as it seeks to provide a comprehensive picture of India's diverse population. For the approximately 1.4 billion people living in India, this census will be a critical tool for shaping government policies and resource allocation in the years to come.